TIDWORTH police sergeant Paul Oatway came face to face with public criticism of policing at a meeting in Ludgershall but left most of the audience reassured.

At the annual parish meeting he said he did not accept criticism that there was little police presence in the village.

"I have no magic wand; I have 14 officers to patrol 55 square miles every day of the week," he said.

"Concern has been expressed about the level of policing so I have done a dip sample and checked officers' pocket books. "Every day, morning, afternoon, evening and night police had been in Ludgershall."

But, he explained, maintaining the service has not been easy as 14 officers is three under strength and three are probationers.

With rest days and three shifts to be maintained the general level of response cover is two police officers on each shift.

Ludgershall has its own beat officer in the form of WPc Debbie Ashton and Sgt Oatway said she was regularly on the beat.

"She has spent a lot of time in the shopping parade in recent months, has made arrests there and dispersed youths, so I know she is on the streets of Ludgershall."

After a question about the closure of Ludgershall police station Sgt Oatway said proposals for mobile stations housed in Transit-sized vehicles had been discussed but were at an early stage.