BOLTON'S Christmas shoppers are set to get extra police protection -- from the air.

As part of a forcewide crackdown on street robbery, Greater Manchester Police's helicopter will swoop over the town on extra aerial tours in the coming months.

Yesterday, GMP Chief Constable David Wilmot unveiled the Hawk helicopter in an effort to reassure Bolton shoppers against the threat of Yuletide muggers.

The initiative, which will kick in from tomorrow, will see the force helicopter, India Nine, Nine, make additional tours above the town's supermarkets, car parks and shopping centre.

The scheme will form part of Operation Hawk which aims to reduce street robbery by a fifth in the next five years.

Launching the latest tactic, Mr Wilmott said: "Over the Christmas and New Year period, criminals have greater opportunities to prey on innocent victims.

"The highly visible Hawk identity on India Nine, Nine together with skilled police officers and the latest technology delivers a robust message to prospective thieves. Our officers on the ground are already involved in a range of crime prevention measures to cut street robberies and the use of the helicopter will play a significant additional role in helping us combat crime."

The helicopter uses state-of-the-art technology to take video footage of events on the ground.

High-tech cameras can zoom in on suspects, car registration plates and can track criminals at night using heat seeking equipment. Last year, GMP's air support unit helped secure 442 arrests across the county of which 80 were made during the Christmas period under Operation Santa.

On Saturday, the BEN revealed that as part of Operation Hawk, police officers were now using high-powered video cameras to film potential teenage muggers and their victims in the town centre.

The extra helicopter tours above Bolton will run into the new year.