BEAT bobbies are extending a successful scheme that gets them out and about into rural villages by hopping on to mobile library buses.

The purpose of putting police officers on the buses is to give residents in out-lying villages the chance to take a leaf out of their book on crime prevention.

The unusual scheme was piloted in villages around HIgh Wycombe last year and started covering outlying areas including Marlow Bottom, Princes Risborough and Booker on May 8.

As villagers pop in for their books they will be able to get expert advice on home safety and crime reduction, talk about problems they may be experiencing with crime and vandalism and get neighbourhood watch information.

The idea behind the partnership came from mobile library van driver, Bob Ackroyd and Inspector Andy Kitchen of Marlow police, who thought it would be useful to deliver a service to people who may not have access to central services.

Inspector Kitchen said: "The programme allows officers to meet with people in a non-threatening environment of the mobile library and chat to them about issues that are of concern to them.

"It is a very useful partnership as it allows us to share resources, therefore reducing overheads and meet members of the community that we may not otherwise get to talk to."

Bob Strong, head of the library, information, museum and archive service, said that it was an opportunity to add value to the mobile library visits by bringing community information closer to local people.

For more information about the library service please call 01296 383206.