Thirty villages in west and north Wiltshire are to get their own mini police inquiries offices with a mobile unit visiting the communities every six weeks.

Julie Higdon, based at the new divisional headquarters at Melksham, will travel between the villages offering an inquiry service.

The post has been funded through the Government's initiative to assist policing in rural areas with the aim of making the police more visible.

Last year, money from the Sparsity fund was used in Wiltshire to employ five support staff as peripatetic station clerks, each covering a number of different stations, to provide increased overall coverage.

Three community beat vehicles were also supplied to enhance the work of beat officers in rural areas by providing a mini mobile police station.

For the new role a Ford Galaxy car has been re-branded and equipped with a laptop computer, offering a state-of-the-art inquiry service.

A full list of locations and dates is displayed on village notice boards through parish councils and local stores and is also on the police website at www.wiltshire.police.uk

Inspector Neil Bagnall, of Melksham Divisional HQ, said: "We ran a pilot scheme earlier in the year and people found the mobile inquiry office very reassuring. I hope that as it becomes a more familiar sight more and more people will visit and make use of it."

Lacock, Colerne, Derry Hill, Yatton Keynell and Box were among the first villages to benefit.

Mrs Higdon said: "The first two weeks of the mobile service have proved to be a successful venture, far beyond our initial expectations.

"Feedback from people has already been positive, and I feel the service I can give will enhance the good work already being carried out by the community beat officers"

Beat officer WPC Ann Morris, who has won an award for her involvement in the community, has been very supportive to the new mobile inquiry service.

She attended the launch at the new Melksham Divisional HQ this week, with Leslie Tizzard, alias Wexford the Cat, a popular champion for crime reduction work region.

Nick Westbrook, chairman of the West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, said: "It is a great idea. It means people who have minor problems can have access to the police in a more convenient way.

Villages to benefit from the new mobile inquiry service between April and December are: Lacock, Colerne, Derry Hill, Yatton Keynell, Box, Dilton Marsh, Bratton, Corsley, Codford, Longbridge Deverill, Semington, Holt, Westwood, Winsley, Atworth, Steeple Ashton, Keevil, Bulkington, Southwick, North Bradley, Sutton Benger, East Tytherton, Stanley, Kington Langley, Kington St Michael, Sherston, Hullavington, Purton, Ashton Keynes, and Lyneham.