TORY leader William Hague is to launch an initiative set up to improve the police service in a Dales community.

North Yorkshire Police has established a base in Hawes after teaming up with the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership.

The one-stop shop serves as an office for beat bobby Dave Cousins, as well as offering Internet access and facilities to pay council tax.

Office staff are also being trained to offer services usually only available at police stations, such as taking reports of thefts and dealing with lost and found property.

Richmond MP Mr Hague will be at the office in Hawes market place, on Friday, to see the work of the partnership.

Western area operations commander Malcolm Foster said: "Our joining this imaginative scheme gives the public far better access to the police.

"When there was a police house in the town, residents took pot luck as to when an officer might be in and on duty.

"Now there is a formal structure and folk know when Dave will be in, and they know that trained staff will be there as a contact point when he is not."

Richmondshire District Council also has a strong presence at the office, with volunteers accepting council tax, rent and car park fines, selling bus passes and arranging refuse collection.

Manager Angela Le Grice said: "The community office is here to provide assistance to individuals and groups for the benefit of the community.

"Local people are already making good use of this service and clearly value its contribution to the community."

The office also has details of vacancies from Job Centres at Richmond, Northallerton and Kendal.