A BEAT officer for the third most troubled area in Darlington being based on the other side of town is "not ideal", police have admitted.

Skerne Park's beat officer, PC Neil Walton, is based at Cockerton Police Station - about three miles away.

Last week, at the launch of a crime crackdown in Skerne Park, which begins today, residents asked to know why.

Some believed officers could be based at the nearer Firthmoor police station.

Inspector Brian Maudling, of Darlington police, admitted the situation was an "anomaly".

He said it was caused by dividing the town in line with Darlington Borough Council's "StreetScene" areas, which has Park East, Skerne Park's ward, alongside Park West, College, Hummersknott, Mowden, and Hurworth in "South-West".

Insp Maudling said: "It's not ideal, I accept that, although PC Walton does as best he can.

"As it is, he does spend a lot of his time anyway in the east part of the town, and at the Firthmoor office.

"It is an anomaly being based in Cockerton, but - as I've said before - if it's not working we are happy to review it. He is happy he can work with it at the moment.

"The majority of his time is spent where it should be spent."

Insp Maudling said the introduction of police pedal cycles, expected in Darlington soon, would also help the situation.

He was speaking before a community walk-around with police, the fire brigade, council staff, and residents, aimed at highlighting issues before the crime crackdown action week, which lasts until Sunday.

Residents highlighted, among other issues, anti-social behaviour on Poets' Corner, left-over food near the Skerne Park pub, and youngsters asking adults to buy them alcohol and cigarettes outside shops.

Park East ward has the third highest amount of anti-social behaviour in the town, although the number of incidents is falling.

Insp Maudling insisted the crackdown was not a week-long police gimmick.

"This is more than just a week-long thing," he said. "People would like a beat officer - or six or seven beat officers - on their street 24 hours a day, but, unfortunately, every one wants that and it's not possible.

"We're trying to solve long-term problems, and we will take on board things that happen this week. We want to work with residents, and work on their intelligence. We won't just drive out of the estate on Sunday and forget about it."