Police will spend £15,000 on "ethically diverse" mascots after one of their officers criticised an existing model for being too male and white.

PCSO Steve, based on Stephen King from the Cheam Safer Neighbourhood Team, will be ditched in favour of more "ethnically diverse" models.

He was created by the Metropolitan Police to visit primary schools but drew complaints for not accurately representing the capital's communities.

The Met will now spend £15,000 on three new characters, expected to be ready next year.

They include a woman PCSO, named Sunita and a man and woman police constable.

Cheery mascot PCSO Steve made his first appearance in 2005 at Sutton police social club Christmas party, where he entertained 150 children.

Since then he has been a popular figure around Sutton - so popular that his duties were extended across London, resulting in his creator being awarded a Chief Superintendent's commendation.

But in a letter to the police in-house magazine The Job, a Met Police sergeant criticised the lack of thought behind the character.

He said the male, blond and blue-eyed character failed to represent the communities he served, and could leave Asian and women officers "isolated".

In a written response to questions from the London Assembly, Sir Ian Blair said the new characters would be "more representative of London's population and the diverse range of police personnel."