Policeman Martin Alvis, who was booking actor John Thaw when a fan ran into the star's car, has left Malmesbury to take up a temporary post in Chippenham.

PC Martin Alvis, 40, has left Malmesbury Police after 12 years to return to his first station in Chippenham as an acting sergeant.

PC Alvis has lived in the Malmesbury area for 28 years and has had a brush with a few famous faces during his time in the town.

He said: "I was doing a seat belt ticket in Oxford Street for John Thaw.

"He was a nice man and I started to give him a ticket. He had been seeing James Grout who plays the superintendent in Inspector Morse.

"Someone saw me talking to John Thaw and then smashed into the back of his car.

"He didn't get a ticket in the end because he had the back end of his car all smashed in and I used some discretion.

"I've met a wide variety of people and various members of the royal family and personalities.

"It's surprising who drives through our town. I looked after Tara Palmer-Tomkinson who was in an accident at Christmas.

"And I once met Nick Knowles from DIY SOS."

PC Alvis, who is currently taking his sergeant's exams, said he was grateful to the Malmesbury community for being helpful.

"I started here in October 1992 and it's been fantastic. It's a wonderful area to police and it's made easier by the support of the community we police.

"There's a wonderfully diverse mixture of people here. Even with the people you arrest you can get a good rapport."

PC Alvis has been involved in shop watch and pub watch and the alcohol exclusion zone to be launched early next year.

He is grateful to everyone for making his time at Malmesbury enjoyable.

PC Alvis, who has six children, expressed particular thanks for the youth of the town.

"I would like to thank the young people in the town, who sometimes get a bad image. Over the years they have been great," he said.

PC Alvis will be focusing on domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and drugs in his new role in Chippenham.

He said: "I am looking forward to the management side of it and I will be in charge of running a shift.

"I am looking forward to meeting the community and servicing their needs with great enthusiasm.

"I have done 14 years as a police constable and I need a change now. One of my ambitions is to come back to Malmesbury as a sergeant."