PEOPLE living on a Ferndown estate are being given extra support and encouragement to work with the police to tackle the area's problems.

Residents at the Heatherlands Estate, formerly known as Trickett's Cross, will now be able to call in and see their local beat officers twice a month at the community centre at Barnes Road to raise any concerns they have.

Community officer PC Julian Humphries said: "The whole area around this part of Ferndown and Three Legged Cross and Wimborne have had to put up with some challenging behaviour.

"I have been doing irregular surgeries but now I have a community support officer so we can really commit to regular times.

"It is all part of the Safer Neighbourhoods process and this is already making a difference.

"People appreciate the informal approach and I strongly believe in getting out there on foot and being approachable."

Community support officer Stewart Gates began working with PC Humphries four months ago and, as part of the move towards on the beat policing and prevention in the community, it is hoped people will feel increasingly comfortable in bringing problems to their attention and working with the police to solve them.

The officers held a drop-in session at the community centre on Tuesday and hope to be there at least twice a month, giving residents support and advice on how to keep themselves and their property safe.

PC Humphries said: "It was very good, we saw about 50 individuals.

"There is a toddlers group that meets there and a pre-school, as well as the Citizens Advice Bureau and an English as a second language class, so people can see us on their way in.

"We want children to be used to seeing us as part of a community and not just arresting people."