What do three Bradford police officers, a student and a worker with the Experience Corps all have in common?

All of them have swapped their normal duties for a once in a lifetime chance to take part in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester starting today.

Sergeant Hilary Baxter, based at Shipley Police Station, PC Nev Woodcock, from Lawcroft House, and PC Tony Meredith, based at Keighley, are giving up their holidays to work free at the Games.

During their annual leave, Sgt Baxter and PC Woodcock will be driving athletes around at the games and PC Meredith will be working in the Commonwealth Games Village with the computer systems, helping athletes with surfing the internet and sending e-mails.

PC Meredith said: "I used to be a marathon runner myself. I have done 25 marathons and at least 100 half marathons, so it was a case of it being pay-back time. I am looking forward to being able to help out behind the scenes."

PC Woodcock said: "I can remember the last Commonwealth Games being held in Scotland in 1968 and I thought that if it is another 40 years before they come to Britain again this would probably be my only chance to get involved. This is a once in a lifetime chance to be a part of something like that."

Sgt Baxter added: "This will be a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world."

Sttar Zaman, Bradford-based "animator" with the Experience Corps, aiming to encourage more people to become volunteers, is leading by example.

"I am in the VIP area but we have been told that we are not allowed to ask for autographs," he said.

Seventeen-year-old Melanie Cropp, a student at Shipley College, said: "I have been placed in the National Squash Centre with the Technology Team.

"My job involves distributing individual scores from the squash games to important drop-off points."