MEET the Saint who is trying to work miracles in one of Manchester's toughest areas.

Beat bobby Andy Saint has been the face of the police force in inner-city Longsight for the past three years.

And now Andy's work has earned him a nomination for the prestigious title of community officer of the year in the national Police Review Awards to highlight unsung heroes.

Andy, 35, who is married with a five-year-old son, said: "I was stunned to be nominated, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm already a winner just to have been put forward."

Andy is used to being ribbed about his saintly presence on the streets of Longsight, and jokes: "Yes, Saint as in Simon Templar" whenever the spelling of his name is queried.

The former Polaris submarine crew member has devised more than a dozen different operational initiatives to solve crime and disorder problems on his beat.

Stunned

He worked for a year on an operation which involved dozens of arrests on benefit fraud and immigration charges and he has effectively targeted those responsible for committing serious violence and drug offences.

He chairs the local Drugs, Alcohol and Sex Workers' Task Group and presents a regular show on the local All FM radio station.

He is also involved in a police initiative at the Longsight Adventure Centre, where youngsters are taught bike maintenance to combat youth nuisance and street crime.

He ran the Manchester Marathon to raise money for a leukaemia sufferer on his patch, has taken part in summer soccer schools, and even learned Urdu to help him with his work with ethnic minority families.

He said: "They're a cracking lot of people on my beat and a complete mix of cultures. On the whole people respect what I'm doing."

He's the first to admit he's not everybody's friend but is happy in the knowledge that he is making a difference to people's lives.

He said: "The general perception of a community bobby is often that of an easy-going chap sharing a cup of tea with the old ladies.

"There's an element of that, but like colleagues on other patches, I have to be something of a one-man band."

Although he works long hours, Andy is a dedicated family man. He added: "My wife Alison is very understanding. Home life is about quality not necessarily quantity and we make the best of it."

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