There will be more police officers and more done to bring down the speed and volume of traffic in Cricklade, according to MP Michael Wills.

Mr Wills, MP for North Swindon, organised a meeting at Cricklade's Union Church Hall to discuss residents' concerns about the area, particularly about the lack of a visible police presence and the increasing volume of lorries going through the town.

He said he was pleased to be able to tell more than 100 people at the meeting a follow-up to one he held in June this year that progress has been made and hopes it will continue.

"My job is to represent my constituents," he said.

"They have not seen any changes yet, but we are making progress with the county council and we are moving towards a stage where the local transport plan can be approved."

In June residents expressed their concerns for the environment, because of increasing lorry traffic.

Mr Wills said: "There has been a long-running problem with heavy goods vehicles running through the town, which is very disruptive to residents.

"Since the last meeting we have made progress and I have been talking to the county council about more measures which can be brought in.

"We will have another meeting like this in six months time to see if we have made any more progress."

The issue of policing in the town has recently been raised.

In October, the Evening Advertiser revealed that common and actual bodily harm assaults have almost trebled from 13 in a nine-month period last year to 38 in the same period this year.

Mr Wills asked Inspector Jon Tapper, who has taken over responsibility of policing in the Cricklade area, to attend the meeting to discuss the issue of policing with the residents.

Mr Wills said: "There were a number of concerns about policing half of the meeting was taken up with questions about it.

"There will be an effort to increase the visible presence of police in the streets, but people must remember that there are a number of restraints on the police."