A POLICE station on four wheels is taking to the streets to crack down on burglars and reassure residents.

The mobile unit will be used across the Gateshead area to take police services into rural communities.

Sergeant Mick Robson, who is based at Whickham police station, said: "It will provide a reassuring presence with officers patrolling from the station in the areas where it is based."

The unit can be used as a base for the community teams, and offer a place for people to obtain crime prevention advice.

In the run- up to Christmas, it will be promoting Northumbria Police's Freeze Out campaign, which aims to cut opportunist burglaries and thefts.

"People who don't always get the opportunity to visit a police station - because of the distance they have to travel from their home - will have the chance to call in," said Sgt Robson.

"Everything you would expect to see in a police station will be in this unit."