RESIDENTS in three South Craven villages are to urge police chiefs to give them another community constable.

Eastburn, Steeton and Silsden are served by one full time and one part time officer, as well as cover from Keighley.

But residents in the three villages are angry that they seem to be neglected by the police when they are most needed - Friday and Saturday nights.

Now they are pushing for another community constable to deter petty crime.

At last Thursday's meeting of Silsden Parish Council, Coun Tom Chilton highlighted the perceived lack of police presence in the town.

"I think that we're trying to operate the police by remote control," said Coun Chilton, referring to a proposal to site CCTV in the town. "But a lot of people would like to see a bobby on the beat in Silsden. People want to see where their money's going."

Police chiefs have already confirmed that the town contributes £170,000 a year to the force though the council tax.

Coun David Emmott, district councillor and chairman of Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council, added: "We should have a policeman on the beat and we are going all out to get one."

An apparent lack of police presence in small villages across Keighley has already been brought to the attention of Chief Supt Derek Bonnard at a community safety day last month.

Silsden Parish Council chairman Geoff Whittaker, who attended the event, said: "There were many views expressed about the perceived lack of police support in this area because people believe it to be woefully inadequate.

"Friday and Saturday nights can be quite a worrying time for some people and the time when we need police presence is the time when it is conspicuous by its absence."

The area's police chief, Insp Paul Spencer, said there just wasn't enough officers to increase beat presence in the local villages.

"There's one and a half officers working out of Silsden Police Station but some areas don't even have any," he said. "However, early in the new year we will be going onto a new shift system which will mean more officers available in the early evening.

"This means inspectors will be able to deploy more staff at various locations."

o An idea to play classical music in Silsden's public loos to deter vandalism could get funding.

Speaking at a meeting of Silsden Parish Council, Bradford's Keighley Area Panel lead officer Patrick Lawton said the idea could qualify for cash.

The panel has a small amount of money available for crime-busting initiatives. "If music in those toilets does have a positive effect in reducing crime and vandalism, then I don't see why it can't be supported," said Mr Lawton.

The project came from Coun Lawrence Walton, who saw a television programme which revealed the calming effects of classical music on vandalism-hit areas.