A police force has created a less revealing uniform for Muslim women which is 'designed not to show the female form'.

West Yorkshire Police hopes that the looser fit will result in more ethnic minority recruits.

Many forces already allow female officers to wear the hijab, or headscarf, but the new uniform is believed to be a UK first.

PC Firzana Ahmed (pictured centre, left, at the Muslim Women's Council in Bradford) models the longer, looser fitting tunic for Muslim female officers (pictured, right, the regular uniform)

The new uniform is in stark contrast to this summer uniform worn by this police officer in Bradford

Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: 'For the last month we have been trialling a new uniform for women which is designed not to show the female form.

'This was suggested by a Muslim female officer and was designed by our Clothing Manager in conjunction with the officer.

'The tunic is a looser and longer fit, and has full sleeves. This has been well-received from officers in the force and we have now made further supplies of this uniform for other officers to trial it if they wish.

'I hope this uniform will encourage people from underrepresented groups to consider a career in policing if they had previously been put off joining the force due to the uniform.

Forces such as the Metropolitan Police already allowed the wearing of headscarves (pictured, Pc Helen Lightfoot in East London)

'We are open to suggestions from all communities on how our uniform can be styled to better suit their needs.'

Pc Firzana Ahmed became the first to wear the new kit and says it has brought 'positive feedback from the local community' in Bradford.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel had quizzed police chiefs on Friday about what they were doing to boost the number of black and minority ethnic (BAME) recruits.

Chief Constable Dee Collins said for some women, concerns about the existing uniform’s design could be preventing them from signing up.

Panel member Roger Grasby said the force had seen some success in boosting the number of staff who were female, disabled or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) but 'less so with BAME'.

The percentage has crept up from five per cent in 2015 to 5.6 per cent this year but there are still concerns candidates are being put off.

Miss Collins said: 'Is it a confidence issue? Is it a trust issue? Possibly around things as simple as uniform.'

She had already showed off the new uniform to the Muslim Women’s Council in Bradford, she revealed, adding: 'I am absolutely determined we will continue to improve these figures,' she said. 'We need to, we absolutely need to.'