WEST Yorkshire's new police horse has been called Stanley, after more than 1,100 people entered a competition to name him.

The four-year-old gelding joined West Yorkshire Police's Mounted Section in May, from a breeder in the Fells.

Five names were selected for the final poll, with Stanley winning by more than 200 votes.

The winner was Rebecca Milton, of Lepton, Huddersfield. She and her family were invited to meet Stanley and the Mounted Section team.

Sergeant Jayne West, who manages the Mounted Section, said: “We all love the name Stanley and think it really suits him. He's really settled in well and we're looking forward to him patrolling with our other horses.

"Stanley has such a fantastic personality, and is really coming along well with his training. He is undoubtedly going to be an excellent police horse and a valued member of our team."

Chief Inspector Chris Bowen, of Protective Services Operations, said: "I was thrilled that so many members of the public got involved with the competition to name our new horse. There were some fantastic suggestions and I know it was hard to whittle it down to five from all those submitted. Any of the five West Yorkshire themed names would have been suitable for him.

“It highlights how much people value the mounted section and are interested and supportive of the work they do across our communities in keeping West Yorkshire safe."

Rebecca Milton said: "We decided it had to be a proper Yorkshire name. I remembered the books about a boy called Stanley Bagshaw. We decided that Stanley was a good Yorkshire name and a strong name for a working police horse."