POLICE chiefs were given a grilling by a Trowbridge pensioner at a meeting organised to help bolster the Wiltshire force's case against merger threats.

Ron Brewer took the chance to quiz top officers over figures suggesting the county is the second safest in England.

The public meeting, at the Civic Hall on Tuesday, was designed to gauge opinions on David Blunkett's Green Paper, which earmarks sweeping changes to the way police forces are structured and run.

Mr Brewer blasted Wiltshire Police Authority chairman Bertie Woolnough and divisional commander Andy Tatam over problems facing Trowbridge residents.

He said: "I say poppycock to claims this county is safe. We had six houses broken into on Friday night. A £200 pedal cycle was also stolen.

"When I told the bike owner to go to the police she said it was a waste of time.

"It would be nice once in a while to see the Chief Constable. We pay her wages and we never see her unless the Royal family come to Trowbridge."

The meeting is one of a series being held across the county for the force and police authority to measure public opinion on Mr Blunkett's plans. A nationwide consultation period ends on January 27.

Fears surround threats to merge Wiltshire Constabulary into a larger South West regional force.

The threat comes from Government plans to revamp the 43-force structure and create lead forces for major crimes like murder, fraud and paedophilia.

The proposals were widely criticised at the meeting, with people worried it could lead to less police on the streets.

One said: "People living in Somerset envy Wiltshire as all their resources go to Bristol and we have a reasonable level of policing in our county town."

Another said: "If the officers are moved into a regional network they will start taking officers out of Wiltshire."

Other potential changes coming under fire included the possibility of electing police authority members and introducing community advocates to deal with minor complaints.

Mr Blunkett wants to make communities more involved in policing and make police commanders of the future more accountable to criticism when services are not up to scratch.