UNSOLVED murders and serious crimes in North Wales are to be probed by detectives from across the border.

It comes as North Wales Police strikes a deal with neighbouring Cheshire to share officers during large-scale investigations.

Similar to TV thriller Awakening The Dead starring Trevor Eve, senior detectives could also be asked to look into unsolved "cold cases".

Unsolved cases date back to 1948, when a Coedpoeth woman was raped and strangled.

In the 1970s a tramp was found stabbed in a burnt-out barn in Llanrwst.

More recent cases include Llangollen antique shopkeeper Trevaline Evans, missing presumed dead, plus murdered Mold postie Paul Savage.

The plans are part of a joint strategy by the two forces to cut running costs of some specialist departments.

If the scheme is a success, it could be expanded but the police have rejected suggestions the joint operations were the first step towards merging forces.

North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom said: "Police forces must co-operate across traditional boundaries for two very good reasons.

"Firstly, crime knows no bounds and, secondly, we can give the public better value.

"I'm delighted North Wales Police and Cheshire are leading the way."

Assistant chief constable David Griffin of Cheshire police said: "This is about giving the public a better service. It's collaboration, not integration."

The Home Office is encouraging forces to work together to allow extra officers to be available for emergencies such as child kidnappings.

Under the proposals, whenever there is a major incident that requires a lot of officers, police from the neighbouring force will help out.

A North Wales Police spokes-woman said detectives from both forces will work together to look into current and old cases.

She said: "There are a number of unsolved crimes in this area but the detectives will not focus on these and will be available to help in any case."

The forces will also share specialist equipment and run one surveillance unit across the two areas.

A single prison intelligence team will gather information from convicts about crimes.

Fingerprint experts will work for both forces so at least one is available to visit the scene of a crime.

Firearms units will work together so gun incidents could be attended by twice as many officers as at present, while two aircraft are set to be bought to fly over both areas.

Cheshire already has a spotter plane, and North Wales a police helicopter.

The two forces are also considering setting up a unit to train all drivers and generate extra income by allowing other forces to pay to use it.