PENSIONER Fredrick Glenister says he begrudges paying the police when he has not seen a bobby on the beat for years.

Mr Glenister, 78, of Blind Lane, Bourne End, received his new council tax statement and said he could not believe what he was paying for the police when the village does not have a dedicated policeman.

"We don't get any police down here," said Mr Glenister. "No traffic wardens. nothing. All we have is an un-used police office. I haven't seen a bobby on the beat down here for ages."

Bourne End has a growing vandalism problem and Mr Glenister said he has first hand experience.

He said: "Some kids were throwing stones at each other over at Blind Lane and it was only a matter of time before someone or a car was damaged. The police had to come from Marlow and by the time they got there, there was nobody there."

Bourne End, Well End and Little Marlow do have a community policeman, PC Barry Feltwell, who is based at Marlow.

Inspector Andrew Kitchen of Marlow Police said they are trying to improve their accessibility to the rural public.

He said: "We do our best to make the most effective use of the resources we have available.

"We have channelled many officers into community policing and Bourne End has its own officers dedicated to community work.

He added: "They work towards identifying and solving problems by working with the district council and other agencies to make communities safer. They do spend a great deal of time on the beat but obviously they can't be everywhere at once."