DEVON and Cornwall Police has launched a competition to name eight of the nine ‘D’ litter puppies.

To be in with a chance of winning, children need to create a road safety poster by Monday (July 11).

The posters should give information about road safety that will appeal to each age group and contain relevant pictures or images. 

Eight posters will be chosen and the winners will be invited to meet the puppies and name one each. The competition is divided into two age groups — 12 years and under and 13 to 18 years.

As is the tradition with litters bred in Force, the D litter puppies will all be given names beginning with D. Each entrant should therefore provide a suggestion for a puppy name beginning with D.

Entries should be sent to External Communications, Cor-porate Communications Building, Police HQ, Middlemoor, Exeter, EX2 7HQ.

Canine development officer Paul Glennon said: ‘We need to name the puppies ready for them to go to their puppy walkers in a few weeks. All being well, they will stay with their walkers for about a year before going on to train as police dogs. Sasha has been a terrific mum and we hope to breed her again in the future.’

The previous three litters bred in Force have had a high success rate.

Most puppies completed their training and became active police dogs across Devon and Cornwall and Dorset and other forces.

The puppy scheme blog can be found at http://dogsection.devon-cornwall.police.uk or follow the police dog section on Twitter: @DC_PoliceDogs.