TIMES: THE public have new points of contact with the police after three new community support officers reported for duty in north Wiltshire.

Steve Butler, 54, from Marlborough, and Rachel Beale, from Swindon, have completed a month of training and arrived in Corsham to start work as PCSOs on Thursday.

Mr Butler, who previously spent 14 years as a traffic warden in Melksham, said: "The role is to have a uniformed presence on the street and to deal with antisocial behaviour. We are a bridge between the public and the police officers."

"It's quite a responsibility but I think it's a futuristic role that's going to develop," he added.

Mr Butler is new to Corsham but said he had received a good welcome. He will spend a few weeks under tutorship of officers at Corsham Police Station before starting work on the streets.

Mark Braithwaite, 35, also started work in Calne on Thursday. He previously worked as health and safety officer at Microlights, Marl-borough and was a retained firefighter for five years.

He said: "This will be something different and a new challenge."