A POLICE chief helped keep youngsters on the straight and narrow - on a narrowboat trip.

West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn joined the trip along the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal from Mirfield to Cooper Bridge.

It was part of West Yorkshire Police's Positive Action for Young People summer scheme.

As well as having a fun day out, the 20 Leeds children, aged between 10 and 16, carried out tests on the water in the canal.

Their results will be sent to the Globe Project, which is run by the USA's Nasa space agency, which is studying water quality around the world.

The day was run by the award-winning Mirfield waterways charity the Safe Anchor Trust.

Mr Cramphorn said it provided a valuable learning experience for the children.

He added: "As is clear from the project with Nasa, our work with the trust provides valuable lessons for youngsters in looking after themselves on the water, working with the wider community and the environment."

The police-run project was launched last year.

One of the other trippers was Marie Millward, an environmental and community worker for British Waterways.

She conducts science experiments on the boats, with help from the young crews. They look out for water-based wildlife, as well as signs of pollution that could affect the fragile environment.

Les Moss, of the Safe Anchor Trust, estimated that the organisation had taken 20,000 people on trips down the canal since the group was set up in 1995.