HE growls, walks on all fours and is paid in tennis balls - meet Hampshire's latest recruit in the fight against arson.

Saxon the black Labrador is Hampshire's first dedicated fire investigation dog and so far he has a 100 per cent record sniffing out the telltale signs of an arson attack.

Along with his handler from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Graham Howlett, and Det Con Mark Leonard of Hampshire Constabulary, Saxon is part of the newly launched Arson Task Force (ATF).

The creation of the ATF comes as figures show arson is one of the fastest growing crimes in the county, accounting for 69 per cent of all calls to emergency services.

The alarming statistics reveal that in 2005 there were 5,035 suspected arson incidents in Hampshire. In 2006 that number had grown by more than 40 per cent to 9,814.

The ATF will be based in Alton and sent to any suspicious blaze. The specially trained officers will then quickly assess whether a fire appears to have been started deliberately and begin collecting evidence.

Saxon's speciality is detecting flammable liquids used to start fires, even days after the incident.

The team has been operating in Hampshire since April and so far has taken part in 30 investigations, resulting in 18 arrests.

Graham Howlett, said: "People start fires for various reasons - covering up crimes, spite, or bored youngsters not realising the dangers.

"Saxon is an incredibly important part of our team because he can sniff out telltale signs of an arson in seconds. So far he has never been wrong and I trust him 100 per cent."

Two-year-old Saxon, who lives with Graham, does all his work in return for a play with his favourite tennis ball.