Residents in Shipley are celebrating the new extended opening hours at the town’s police station.

The help desk at Shipley station is now open to the public from 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Saturday, with closure for lunch between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Previously the public only had access to the help desk from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Officers believe opening on Saturday instead of Monday, which is traditionally quiet, will allow people to come in and see officers over the weekend when they are off work.

Senior officers will be studying the results of the extended opening to see if the scheme can be introduced at other stations. Chief Superintendent Allan Doherty, of Airedale and North Bradford Police, said the extended hours had been thanks to staff restructuring.

He said: “Improving access to local officers is a key part of neighbourhood policing and we are looking at rolling out extended opening times at some of the other smaller stations in the division in due course if they prove successful in Shipley.”

Shipley MP Philip Davies said he was delighted West Yorkshire Police had recognised the importance of local police stations.

He said: “They should be commended for extending the hours at Shipley. I hope Bingley station will also benefit from this.”

Shipley Town Centre manager Yvonne Crossley said: “We are delighted. A couple of years ago we thought we were going to lose the station altogether.”

Inspector John Tatham, of the Shipley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Switching some cover from Mondays to Saturdays should be a help to those who are working and find it difficult to come in during the week.

“To speak to your local team, contact (01274) 537454. This is not a permanently-staffed station and in the event of not receiving a reply straight away please leave a message with your contact details and we will get back to you within 24 hours.”