A ground-breaking initiative which will breath new life into a defunct police station was being launched today in Haworth.

The former village police station in Changegate has been converted into a community contact point, bringing police, volunteers and other agencies under one roof.

At the heart of the pioneering project are the volunteers - people like Rachel Wilson, a 46-year-old mother of two.

Mrs Wilson will help staff the Worth Valley Police and Community Contact Point from Wednesdays to Fridays from 11am to 3pm and at weekends from noon to 4pm.

And she is fitting the job in between training for ordination and her work as a parish councillor.

Mrs Wilson said she volunteered because she felt it was up to residents to stick their necks out and tackle issues, like youth problems. "I'm very excited about this new project. The parish council and the police have put in a lot of effort to make this happen and we are hoping that local people will now have more access to a variety of services," she said.

Around 2,000 people signed a petition to keep the police station open.

The building has undergone a facelift and will be staffed by at least 12 policing volunteers - two on duty at any time.

Bradford Neighbourhood Forum has also provided funding to appoint a co-ordinator to oversee the work of the volunteers.

Backed by the Problem Orientated Police (POP) team, which includes Haworth PC Brian Woollard, the volunteers will provide general information and crime prevention advice and record matters that need reporting to police.

Among the services available will be victim support, citizen's advice, advice about jobs and the parish council, links with fire and ambulance services, Keighley college, Bradford social services and a host of other organisations.

Project manager Lesley Airey said she had worked on the scheme since last September and had been overwhelmed by the interest.

"It's a flagship project which demonstrates how best value can be achieved by working together and bringing many different services to the community," she said.

But she added that its success depended on the support of the community and the volunteers to help in the day-to-day running of the office.

PC Woollard said: "By working with all the different agencies we will be able to improve the quality of life of all those people who live and work in, and travel to, the area.

"Hopefully the community will use the contact point, not just to report matters to the police but to resolve other problems in their lives."

Anyone interested in being a volunteer should ring 01535 617107 or 0845 6060606.