POLICEWOMEN on the beat will be given a new bike after an existing one was found impractical for them.

Hazlemere Parish Council bought a bike some years ago for their beat bobby so he could get round quicker.

But council chairman David Cox said this would not be suitable for the women, especially if they were to wear skirts.

Mr Cox said: "The problem is that we now have two WPCs and because they are ladies they are not going to like a crossbar especially if they are wearing skirts, it's a bit of a job."

Councillors agreed the gift on Tuesay as part of its bid to cut vandalism in the area.

Mr Cox said that many of the vandalism attacks were in the parks and recreational grounds and the new mountain bike would enable the police women to be more visible in open spaces.

He added: "You can't take a car into a park, so a bike would be ideal."