WARWICKSHIRE'S Chief Constable John Burbeck will be in Bidford next week to open a new community police office.

Mr Burbeck will be at the special opening on Friday after the county council and police thrashed out a new partnership.

The base, which is part of the one-year-old multi-million pound library in Bramley Way, will be used by Bidford bobby Pc Pete Gateley along with his special constables and Community Safety Officers (CSO).

The base is filled with the latest technology to help officers and will have a friendly, confidential environment.

The county council's director of Libraries, Heritage and Trading Standards, Noel Hunter, said: "We're delighted to be strengthening our links with the police while at the same time helping to deliver such a valuable service to the people living in and around Bidford.

"Bidford library is an excellent example of a 21st century library and the new community police office it has is an excellent example of partnership working."

The new police base is being opened as Bidford residents are calling for more police presence in and around the village.

Residents' main fears about three proposed youth shelters on Big Meadow and Saxon Fields car park, Bidford, and the play area in Broom are now coming to a head.

Villagers have reported to parish councillors that they have seen needles, syringes and drug dealing on two of the proposed shelters but were too frightened to call the police because of reprisals.

District councillor for the Bidford ward, Kim James, said: "Local residents have objected to the plans for youth shelters in the village because they say it would increase the nuisance they already suffer.

"Residents have said they have seen syringes on the Broom play area and drug dealing but they were too scared to ring the police because of any reprisals.

"And I know residents have a big objection to the planned meeting point at Saxon Fields car park because they feel the same issue relates to the misuse of drugs.

"The three district councillors, myself, Brian Slaughter and Darren Pemberton, all fully support the youth shelter plan and have since sat down with residents and told them that the youth shelter would bring an increased police presence in the area.

"I'm not nave enough to say there are no drugs in Bidford but I believe it's a perceived problem - we had a youth event in the village in the summer and the majority of those who attended were good kids."