Gloucestershire will be getting 46 new police officers in the first wave of recruitment, the Home Office have announced.

And the news of the new officers - the first of 20,000 new bobbies to hit the beat across the country - has been met with widespread approval across the county.

Adding 20,000 police officers is one of the key domestic policies announced by the government as it bids to turn attentions closer to home after the Brexit negotiations.

The first year of the recruitment drive will see 6,000 new officers hit the beat - with 46 of them being confirmed by Home Secretary Priti Patel as being in Gloucestershire.

She said: "The public are clear they want to see more police officers on their streets, whether they live in the city or the countryside.

"This is the people's priority and it is exactly what the Government is delivering.

"Every single police force in England and Wales will be able to recruit additional officers this year to help keep all of our communities safer."

Unsurprisingly, the announcement received the immediate thumbs up from some of Gloucestershire's Conservative MPs.

Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester said: "46 additional officers for the Gloucestershire Constabulary in year one is a very good start and implies 150 over the three-year project.

"I hope many of those will help fight crime - knives, drugs and stabbings especially - in Gloucester, and over time if we need more we'll need to make a compelling case for that."

Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson tweeted: "I welcome the announcement of 46 extra police officers for Gloucestershire as part of the government's policy of recruiting 20,000 more officers across the country in next three years.

"It's a good start for us, and I will be working with other Gloucestershire MPs to push for more."

The news was also welcomed at the force's Waterwells base with both the chief constable and police and crime commissioner supporting the annoumcement,

Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: "I welcome the news confirming how many police officers we will be receiving as part of the HM Government's pledge.

"This funding will enable us to continue to strengthen our ra

nks and provide the service that the public expects and deserves from us.

"This combined with our ongoing recruitment campaign will allow the Constabulary to address some of the very pressing demands we face."

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl added: "I am pleased with the allocation of police officers that we will be receiving and hopefully this will be continued over the coming years.

"I hope we will soon hear the final details, including funding arrangements.

"The extra resources will allow us to keep the public safe from harm and help us to continue to meet the aims of my Police and Crime Plan."