Banbury residents have welcomed the introduction of new beat officers to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town.

Two new community officers, Pc Justin Smart and Pc Jim Kinton, will cover Grimsbury and Bretch Hill.

The Grimsbury area had been without a beat officer for nine months.

Bretch Hill, which until four years ago had a team of six officers, has since had just one. He will now be joined by Pc Kinton.

Grimsbury and Castle ward district councillor Richard Collins said: "I am very pleased there's a new beat officer in Grimsbury. "An officer on the ground gets to know the youngsters in the area.

"The old people feel a lot more safe knowing there's a somebody about on the beat.

"We have not had a beat officer for months and antisocial behaviour and vandalism has become more prevalent as there is no one to confront the youths.

"It's nice to see the Panda cars, but more beat officers are needed to identify problems and nip them in the bud."