'Overcooked' Scilly Isles police advert goes global

Hopeful bobbies from across the world have applied to be a police officer on the Isles of Scilly after a Facebook advert went viral.

Applications poured in from as far as Thailand and Australia for the job described as "quite possibly the most enviable policing post in the UK or even the world".

However, it quickly became clear that not everyone could apply for position in one of the UK's most picturesque locations.

Sergeant Colin Taylor, who posted the advert, said he forgot to mention the job was only open to serving Devon and Cornwall officers.

"I think I may have overcooked the job advert," he wrote on Facebook.

"The phones were red hot at the police station all weekend.

"Commiserations go to hopefuls who contacted us from Ukraine, Texas, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Greece, loads from Italy, Australia, Germany, Portugal, South Africa and a smattering from England, Scotland and Ireland."

Apparently there were no applications from Wales though.

"Afraid to find out we may have superior daffodils," quipped Sergeant Taylor.

Not renowned as a hotbed of crime but if any applicants knew how to handle a stray seal in the high street or be able to pacify drunken chefs arguing about salt, they could be just the sort of candidate required.

Crimes investigated by officers recently include a goldfish found abandoned on the steps of the police station, a short sighted horse vandalising cars and a 50-year-old row over a shed.

Fortunately for any potential candidate they will no longer have to share an office with Mowgli the cat - given the honorary title of deputy chief constable - as he has recently retired