Cambridgeshire s Chief Constable today revealed she had made a bid to become Britain s most senior police officer.Julie Spence said she had applied to take over from Sir Ian Blair as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.If successful Mrs Spence, 53,

Cambridgeshire's Chief Constable today revealed she had made a bid to become Britain's most senior police officer.

Julie Spence said she had applied to take over from Sir Ian Blair as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

If successful Mrs Spence, 53, would become the first female officer to command Britain's biggest police force.

Mrs Spence has been in charge in Cambridgeshire for three years. She began her career as a teacher before joining Avon and Somerset Police 30 years ago.

She became assistant chief constable of Thames Valley Police in the late 1990s before becoming deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire in 2004.

Mrs Spence made headlines last year when she said her force needed more staff and cash to cope with pressures caused by a sudden influx of migrant workers in East Anglia.