CHESHIRE police are in the top 30 most gay-friendly employers in the country.

The Workplace Equality Index has been drawn up by gay rights organisation Stonewall to recognise companies and public bodies that make homosexuals feel welcome.

Lloyds TSB topped the list but Cheshire Constabulary was the country’s sixth highest placing police force, coming in at 28.

Merseyside Police was in eighth place, and North Wales Police were placed at number 50.

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service was nowhere to be seen in a list of 307 entrants, despite a handful of other fire brigades making the top 100.

Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough, Vale Royal Borough, Chester City and Cheshire County councils were also missing.