WESTBURY is about to become the last town in west Wiltshire to recruit a police community support officer.

The town council has put forward £11,000 and Wiltshire Police Authority will pay the same amount to fund the post for its first year.

The money will be available from April and residents could see a PCSO in action later in the summer.

PCSOs assist regular officers and act as a visible presence to deter crime.

Because they don't have to fill in as much paper work as regular officers they can spend more time on the streets and be directed to trouble spots.

Town councillor Bill Braid said: "Crime is not especially bad in Westbury. It is often the perception of crime that's the problem.

"An extra uniformed presence on the streets will hopefully make people feel a lot more comfortable."

Trowbridge and Melksham were the first west Wiltshire towns to get PCSOs in 2003 while Warminster joined the ranks in 2004.

Bradford on Avon Town Council has earmarked funds for the role and a PCSO could start work as early as next month.

In a report Insp Geoff Miles, section head of Warminster and Westbury police, said: "The PCSOs have proven how effective they can be in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour, which seems to be at the forefront of everybody's agenda."