It's full steam ahead over crime

Police Community Support Officers are letting the train take the strain and jumping aboard carriages on the Severn Valley Railway to reach the outskirts of their beat.

Bosses with the heritage steam railway have granted free travel to the officers to enable them to get from Bewdley to Arley, about four miles away. They already have free travel on buses.

But the historic steam railway goes direct from Bewdley to Arley in around 15 minutes, which makes it an ideal option for Bewdley Community Support Officer Hollie Tipper who is to be joined in early August by another colleague, currently undergoing training. Sgt Chris Aimes of Bewdley Police said: "Severn Valley Railway attracts a huge number of visitors. A large part of the role of a CSO is carrying out high visibility patrols, and while they are on board the trains between Bewdley to Arley it is an ideal opportunity for them to meet people and answer any questions they may have.

"Although they will primarily use the railway to get from Bewdley to Arley and Northwood, there is no reason why they shouldn't also use the line to get to Kidderminster if they need to visit divisional headquarters and no vehicle is available.

"We are very grateful to the railway for its support." John Leach, marketing manager for the Severn Valley Railway, said: "Rural communities like Arley can be difficult to reach without a car, and we are very pleased to grant free travel to uniformed CSOs to enable them to more easily get around.

"They do a fantastic job and we hope our visitors will enjoy having the opportunity to chat to them on board the trains."

Mr Leach added: "We are very much part of the local community and hope that by doing this we are giving something back.

"It is something we could not have offered while the railway was out of action on part of the route following last year's floods.

"Now it is fully back in operation and running from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth via Bewdley and Arley."

CSO Hollie Tipper said that she was "delighted" by the offer and looking forward to taking trips on the steam trains.