WEST Mercia Probation in Worcester has scored highly in a performance review by the head of the service.

Following a meeting with staff at the service's newly refurbished Worcester offices, Eithne Wallis, director general of the National Probation Service, described the team as "impressive".

Ms Wallis, was in Worcester to formally open the Grade II listed building in Shaw Street which has undergone an £800,000 facelift.

She said she was very impressed with the way the staff spoke about their job, their energy and enthusiasm and their determination to deliver a quality service during her visit last Tuesday, which was part of a three-day tour of probation areas.

"West Mercia is on the way up all the time," she said, "The performance and results are constantly improving which is why I wanted to come and meet the staff so that I would know what life is really like on the ground."

She praised the structure of West Mercia and said she believed it was in good hands.

She also added that the probation service as a whole was two years into its restructuring process and the West Mercia team was amongst those areas that were performing to the highest standards.

"The staff I have met here are already the embodiment of the new choreography," she added.