WHEN the next set of police commendations come around, the Diary has a nomination. No, it's not Chief Sup. Tim Madgwick for supreme bravery in wearing those running shorts, but Bruce the police dog.

Bruce was on hand - or should that be paw - when a man was arrested in Dringhouses, York, by armed officers on Tuesday.

The dramatic events were caught on camcorder by an Evening Press reader, and featured on our front page yesterday. This footage featured Bruce as he entered a flat at the scene, showing a fearless devotion to duty.

But a previously unreported part of the soundtrack to the video proves that this is one unflappable canine. A woman off camera, clearly unmoved by her proximity to gun-wielding men in uniform, is heard to scream: "Go on Brucie!!"

Despite this provocation, the German Shepherd did not switch to attack mode but continued about his duties with creditable decorum.

If this doesn't earn him an award, he should at least enjoy a Brucie bonus.

BUT then he has been well trained. North Yorkshire police has worked with dogs for more than 80 years.

The force's website informs us that Belgium was the first country to train dogs to help police investigations - in 1899.

"In the UK we were slow to recognise the potential of using dogs to deter criminals. In fact, one of the pioneer efforts in the use of police dogs was in the North Yorkshire area.

"In 1923 the chief constable Major Robert Bowes began using Airedale terriers as police dogs."

EAGLE eyed readers have spotted coloured lights sprouting like a rash across York. One reports seeing "several coloured discs with glass domes implanted in the pavement on Lord Mayor's Walk and into Goodramgate.

"They are all about 3-4 inches in diameter with the glass raised bit about an inch in diameter. Some are blue, and some are silver with clear glass."

Another York resident saw them dotting Lendal Bridge. "They're nice to look at but why are they there?" the Diary was asked. "Lights? Special cats eyes for Ascot revellers? Or is it marking a landing strip for other alien craft?"

None of the above. They are part of the York Breadcrumbs tour of York.

As reported by my colleague Stephen Lewis on the books page last month, this is the idea of local publisher ENDpapers. It combines a collection of magical stories about the city with an interactive adventure trail. Each story is linked to a trail of reflective lights set into pavements and takes explorers up rooftops, into sewers and down into buried Roman roads. As the venture is designed to "bring families into York at night", it's a shame the council is not doing more to tell residents what it's about.

WITH all this talk of recycling, "Phill the buccaneer" emails with a suggestion. "The removal of the cobbles near the Mount seems a bit drastic. Why can't they just be cemented across the roads as cheap recycled traffic calming measures?"

ANOTHER pseudonymous emailer, Whipmawhopmagate, responds to our report yesterday of a new twist in St Peter's School's battle to close a public footpath on its premises.

"It looks as if the (school) path to hell is paved with good intentions," quips Whip.

Updated: 09:35 Thursday, June 02, 2005