UPTON residents will soon be able to access police and council services via the town library.

Worcestershire County Council is working in partnership with Malvern Hills District Council on a plan to extend the building and create a 'one-stop-shop'.

This would operate in a similar way to the customer contact centre at Malvern Library, but would also incorporate police services.

Trained district and county council staff will be brought in to deal with queries and complaints. People will also be able to speak directly to a police representative.

It is expected that the centre would be open from 9am to 5pm, five days a week.

The county council is currently in talks with West Mercia Police about buying land it owns next to the building for the extension. If this goes through, work could begin as early as June, with the centre open by Christmas.

The district council has set aside £100,000 in capital funding for the centre, as well as money for its operation. This could be up to £200,000, divided between the Upton centre and a smilar venture in Tenby Wells.

Council leader Tom Wells said: "We're aware that it's a long way for people to go the customer contact centre in Malvern, so the sooner we can get something in Upton, the better. What we want to do is offer the same kind of provision to Upton as in Malvern and I'm determined it will get under way as soon as possible."

Coun Wells said he planned to ask both Upton Town Council and the public what they would like to see in the new centre over the next few months. He said: "There will be a full consultation with the town council and local community to make sure it's the type of provision they have in mind."