THE former head of Bolton Police has left the hectic world of crime fighting to broadcast Christian radio programmes in exotic countries.

John Bartlett, 49, pictured left, spent three and a half years as Bolton's chief superintendent from 1994 to 1997.

But he has now swapped a life of protecting the rainy streets of Bolton for the idyllic beaches of the Seychelles and the hot-lands of the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

London-born Mr Bartlett said: "The weather is a little different from Bolton, especially in Cyprus, Lebanon, Kenya, the Seychelles and various other exotic places that have required visits as part of the new job."

A former Baptist church deacon, he retired from the police force in May last year and has become the chief executive of charity The Far East Broadcasting Association.

But he still remembers with deep affection his time in Bolton, and especially the townsfolk.

He said: "It's a really nice town with super people and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time. It was a rueful moment when I was subsequently transferred into a headquarters post."

He and his wife Thelma even celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary while he was working in the Seychelles in July.

His job now involves organising the broadcasting of Christian programmes in sixty different languages to more than thirty countries.