AFTER years of waiting, residents of Woolston have finally done the double - securing a police sergeant and station in just a matter of weeks.

Last week the Guardian told how residents clamoured to attend a public meeting with police representatives and Warrington North MP Helen Jones.

And as a direct outcome of the meeting a community officer was appointed to the area, in an attempt to tackle the upsurge of crime and disorder.

Now it has been revealed that the district's new bobby on the beat, PC Jane Buckley, will have her own office in the centre of Woolston, among the Dam Lane shops.

The offer of a home for PC Buckley came from the landlord of the shopping parade, who has provided the premises free of charge.

The precinct has been the focal point for disorder in recent years, with shops targeted by thieves and vandalism becoming rife.

But shoppers and traders have been given new hope now that PC Buckley will be based directly in the trouble spot.

The police office will be an invaluable point of contact for residents and traders, and will double for regular police surgeries.

PC Buckley will take on the community beat as part of a proposed 12-month pilot scheme, and she is already receiving a warm welcome from the community.

Parish councillor Alice Frogatt said she was absolutely delighted by the news. "This will be the first time in over 25 years that people in Woolston will have a police office (and officer) on their doorstep," she said.

"We would like to thank the landlord for his public spirit and everyone else who has been involved in this excellent project.

"Hopefully this will completely alleviate a lot of the problems we've been having. It's such great news."