VILLAGERS in Wythall are to get three more police officers to combat growing yobbish behaviour and rowdiness.

The move follows a campaign by residents for more bobbies on the beat.

County councillor Wally Stewart said: "We have been fighting for more officers for some time.

"We have quite a lot of unacceptable behaviour here in Wythall and this should lessen with the arrival of more police officers.

"There have been situations where officers have had to be drafted in from Bromsgrove because there is not enough cover for Wythall and Alvechurch."

Chief Inspector Charlie Hill said: "After I arrived here six months ago I discovered the division had never really got up to strength since the amalgamation of Redditch with Bromsgrove.

"With a bit of reorganisation we should have three more police officers in place by the end of November."

He said a detective had also been assigned to the station.

The police chief stressed: "There are pockets of antisocial behaviour in the village but I do not want to be alarmist - the situation is no worse there than anywhere else in the district."

Mr Stewart, who is also chairman of the village neighbourhood watch, said his next campaign was to try to get the village police station opened 24 hours a day.