WEBBERS Land Rover this week signed a sponsorship deal with Basingstoke police.

The New Road-based dealership showed its support for the local community by supplying the rural policing sector with a Defender vehicle.

The force's Countrywatch unit specialises in dealing with such problems as burglary and illegal hare coursing in village communities.

The donation of the Defender will provide greater resource capability for the rural areas surrounding Basingstoke.

By using it to maintain constant surveillance, the unit is able to call on back-up assistance much quicker than was previously possible.

Andrew Childs, dealer principal at Webbers, said: "The force's special unit is the perfect sponsorship choice for Land Rover, as the scheme is reliant on vehicles that are safe, powerful, reliable and dependable.

"Webbers is happy to be able to provide extra resource to the scheme."

Commenting on the sponsorship deal, Inspector Adrian Gatehouse, rural sector inspector, said:"This vehicle will allow us to go further off-road and access the more-difficult-to-reach parts of our rural area.

"It will help ensure effective policing of these areas where criminals may feel they have better access than we have."

Insp Gatehouse added: "We are delighted with the support from Webbers Land Rover. The dealership's backing and sponsorship compliments the resources we already have and, more importantly, assists us in responding better to the needs of the rural communities surrounding Basingstoke."