Newcastle Evening Chronicle reporter Rachel Kerr experienced police training first hand when she attended a familiarisation day held by Northumbria Police.

Testing times

The event, which was the fifth to be held by the force, is to help women find out more about the service encourage them to apply.

When the opportunity arose for Rachel to get involved, she was first in line to be put through her paces.

Rachel said: "We got the press release about the women's recruitment day - and rather than just do a story on the press release I wanted to do a first person story.

"I was very interested to find out what it was all about and it was one of those jobs that I'd had on my list of things when thinking about a career."

As part of the training exhibition, Rachel took part in a beep test, a speed agility test, a grip strength test and a final endurance test in front of about 70 other women on the familiarisation day.

"It was a bit tough but they were a nice crowd - I just didn't expect to be doing it in front of them. The loudest sound in the room was me gasping for breath!"

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk