Police dog Ross has been hounded out of the force - for being such a daydreamer.

The three-year-old German Shepherd has been with Durham Police since he was an eight-week-old pup and has undergone intensive training.

But attempts at teaching him to follow his nose led nowhere as he kept losing the scent and wandering off into his own doggy world.

Now handlers have decided he suffers from the canine version of "attention deficiency disorder".

Paul Hedges, training supervisor at the regional police dog school, at Harperley Hall, near Crook, said Ross was easily sidetracked.

"He would track for up to a mile and then he would be distracted by something and lose the trail," said Paul.

"Part of the problem is a lack of concentration, which is no use to the handler because he can only follow where the dog leads.

"This is unusual because it's usually a natural instinct for a dog to be able to track.

"It's something dogs do in the wild to find food. I think if Ross had to do that, he would starve."

Since his enforced retirement, Ross has been found a home and will move in with his new owners shortly.

Durham Police is seeking seven new canine recruits to undertake a 13-week training programme at the dog school.

Any who fail to make the grade will be returned to their original owners or found new homes.

Inspector Geoff Young, of the force's operational support branch, said: "We hope that members of the public who have dogs which are, perhaps, proving too much for them, will get in touch in response to our appeal."

Anyone considering giving a dog is welcome to visit the school and can arrange to do so by telephone. The force wants pedigree German Shepherd dogs, not bitches, aged ten to 24 months and fully vaccinated.

Anyone owning a suitable animal should contact Paul Hedges on (01325) 742 505, 8am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.