Two Essex Police spaniels are the only police dogs across the Eastern region trained to help find vital DNA evidence at crime scenes.

Ludo and Millie are called to the scenes of assaults, murders, stranger rapes and collisions to search for tiny pieces of evidence undetectable to the human eye.

The duo, who are both aged around 16 months, were donated to Essex Police’s Dog Unit in Sandon, Chelmsford last year to be trained to detect blood and human tissue.

After completing a five-week course with their handlers Pc Paul Nicholls and Pc Kevin Lloyd, they are now capable of detecting a single drop of blood in a swimming pool filled with water and can also be used to locate small fragments of DNA evidence.

Because the duo are able to detect such tiny amounts, they can be called to scenes where suspects have tried to clean away evidence or made off with tiny fragments from the scene on their clothes and shoes.

Ludo and Millie completed their training in Lancashire using playful techniques which sees them rewarded with their favourite ball when they make a discovery.

Pc Paul Nicholls, Ludo’s handler, said: “Millie and Ludo have been trained to give us a passive indication. That means they freeze to tell us they’ve picked up a scent.

“Their noses are hundreds of times more sensitive than ours so they’re capable of finding vital evidence that might otherwise go unnoticed.”

Dog Unit Insp Brad Dickel said: “Ludo and Millie are great assets to the dog unit and Essex Police.

“Unfortunately the nature of our work means that we sometimes have to locate people who have died or investigate serious crimes such as murders and serious assaults.

“Their abilities are truly remarkable and a reminder of how our dogs help officers solve crime and bring offenders to justice.”