HELPING residents overcome fears about venturing into Swindon's Faringdon Road Park is high on the agenda of the area's new beat officer.

WPC Louise Chamberlain rejoined the Swindon Division last week after three years in Marlborough.

Prior to that, the former hairdresser spent six years policing Swindon.

She said: "It's a busy and diverse place with all kinds of different people living here.

"I want to establish myself and meet as many people as I can so that residents know they can approach me with confidence.

"Part of my role is to be a visible presence in the town.

"Everyone wants to see more police on the beat because they can't talk to officers driving cars."

Troubled Faringdon Road Park is one of the biggest areas WPC Chamberlain, 36, will have responsibility for.

Residents, councillors and Swindon Services officials have spent recent weeks discussing how best to restore the park, which has earned a reputation as a haven for drunks, drug addicts and a place where sexual assaults take place.

Only last month a woman was indecently assaulted near the toilets.

Swindon Council has already agreed to free up £45,000 each year for three years from its capital budget in a bid to restore the park.

Improvements to security, hedges and the introduction of a children's play area are just some of the ideas touted. And the park has long been seen as a poor relation to Queen's Park and the Town Gardens.

The park is Swindon's oldest, given to the borough by the Great Western Railway, but has lately been allowed to slip into disrepair.

WPC Chamberlain added: "I am aware there have been some problems in the park before, but part of my job is to reassure the public that it is a safe place."

The multi-talented officer is also one of a handful of gay and lesbian liaison officers in the Wiltshire force, trained to offer help and advice to those who have suffered homophobic attacks or assaults.

She said: "It's difficult to come forward and report a crime at the best of times, but it must be especially difficult if you are the victim of a homophobic attack or assault that's what I am here for.

"People can call me to have a chat and hopefully I will be able to help and reassure them."

WPC Chamberlain realised a childhood ambition when she joined the force and kept it in the family when she married Det Sgt Peter Chamberlain, who is based at Wootton Bassett police station.