A POLICE dog who was first on the scene after the Manchester Arena terrorist bomb attack last year has been recognised.

Mojo and British Transport Police officer Phil Healy, from Atherton,had already finished a shift on May 22, 2017 when they heard about the blast at the Ariana Grande concert.

The pair went to the Manchester Victoria train station concourse to search it as it was being used as the main casualty treatment area for victims.

They then went to the venue where the Ariana Grande concert took place to check if they could find any secondary devices.

PC Healy said: “Mojo was working well but he was somehow different. It was as though he didn’t want to be there, among the carnage that surrounded him.

"But despite this he worked on, clearing the area so that the firearms unit could move out of the area safely.”

Phil and Mojo were later joined by other dog teams to search the whole of the venue.

The pair worked until 7am the following morning and were also called out again after reports were made of a suspicious item elsewhere.

Vet charity PDSA has awarded Mojo with the PDSA Order of Merit. Inspector Paul Miles from British Transport Police nominated Mojo for the award.

Mojo retired in August.

He said: “I am so proud to see Mojo recognised in this way. He acted in the finest traditions of policing, under circumstances that you can never fully train for. PC Healy and Mojo have made a stellar team in their time together and, as Mojo adapts to a life of retirement, it’s a wonderful moment to pause and reflect on his service and actions.”

PC Phil Healy, was joined by PDSA director of fundraising Nigel Spencer last week to announce his award.

Nigel said: ‘Mojo’s actions on that fateful night enabled the emergency services to carry out their vital work, by helping to search and clear the area of potential secondary devices.

"Mojo worked tirelessly under conditions he’d never experienced before.

"For that devotion to duty and service to society, PDSA is honoured to recognise him.”