Village bobbies in Steeton, Eastburn and Silsden are having to catch the bus to respond to calls, the Keighley News can reveal.

PC Richard Leonard, the only full time police officer for the three villages, covers the area on foot and has to use public transport to answer calls.

At a meeting of the Steeton with Eastburn parish council on Wednesday, to which the police officer travelled in his own car, PC Leonard said: "When I came on duty today a job came in at Steeton and it just happened that there was a bus that I could catch. A vehicle would help me in my job."

His comments came as parish councillors discussed the lack of police cover for Steeton and Eastburn.

Councillor John Hargreaves said: "You want some more help. We can't expect you to be everywhere, it's just not possible. You can only be in one place at a time."

Ward councillor Eric Dawson, while praising the overall lack of crime in the villages, said: "The local bobby walking around will know a lot of people and will know if there is a stranger in town."

The Keighley police budget runs to nearly £7 million, five per cent of the total West Yorkshire policing budget. Silsden used to be patrolled 24 hours a day by a team of eight full time police officers working two at a time.

Now PC Leonard is the only full time officer, with PC Alison Smith working part time. He said: "It's surprised me how busy it is. I have been here since June and I have been rushed off my feet.

Parish council chairman Cllr David Emmott told fellow councillors the village policeman in the Haworth area covers an area of around 90 square miles on foot. Cllr Maurice Bell said a visible police presence on the streets makes a big difference to public's confidence.

The councillors now plan to write to the chief of Keighley police to ask for more cover for the area.

Inspector Paul Spencer, of Keighley police, says: "At the moment Steeton and Silsden have one and a half community officers while some areas have no community officers whatsoever. There will be no more community officers for that area." He says if an emergency call comes in that requires a quick response a car would be used, and says giving PC Leonard a mode of transport, such as a bicycle, would not stop the complaints.

"People want officers as fast as possible, and that's not always possible to get. Then other people want officers on foot and it's not always possible to balance the two," says Insp Spencer.