A POLICEMAN who is regularly seen patrolling the streets of his village has been praised by a councillor.

PC Steve Wailes, who is based at Barnard Castle Police Office, became the beat officer for Staindrop recently. A native of the North-East, although he has lived all over England, he now resides in the village with his wife and daughters, Stephanie and Jessica, who attend the village school.

Although beat officer for Staindrop, his patch also includes Butterknowle, Woodland, Stainton Village and Newsham, but he hopes to become a familiar face around the village. He will also be visiting schools on his patch. And his determination to be seen around Staindrop has certainly won him one fan, in the guise of Teesdale District councillor, Mary Mitchell.

Commenting at the launch of the Community Safety in Teesdale initiative held at the Bowes Museum last week, Coun Mitchell said older people wanted to see more policemen on the beat and she was delighted that that was now being addressed in Staindrop.

"Our new officer lives in the village and his children go to the village school," she said. "That is very positive."

But PC Wailes acknowledged that he still had some way to go before everyone knew who he was. "I was outside the village school the other day and an elderly lady asked me if I was lost," he joked.

He said four other beat officers had been designated in Teesdale.