A CONTACT point set up over a decade ago when a village police station faced the axe is proving a massive success.

The Worth Valley Police & Community Contact Point, in Haworth, has a 10-strong team of volunteers and is providing a wide range of services to the area.

People can use the Changegate premises to report issues to the police and council, obtain crime prevention information and goods, and have photocopying done.

And some of the volunteers have been trained to give talks to groups about what residents can do to protect themselves and their property.

So-called SmartWater kits, to security-mark goods, have just gone on sale at the centre.

Mrs Margaret Smith has been the paid co-ordinator at the contact point since 2008.

"When the small but well-loved police station in Haworth was threatened with closure in 2001 the parish council along with some dedicated volunteers fought to keep a police presence in the village," she said.

"Now the contact point is a thriving success story which has evolved to become a flagship of what volunteers and communities can do.

"More contact points have opened across West Yorkshire since 2001, often run by volunteers along with a PCSO. They are a valuable resource but more than that they make volunteering matter to a lot of people."

The Haworth premises open four afternoons a week.

It can be contacted on wvcontactpoint@yahoo.co.uk or 01535 644001.

* On September 26, at 10am, it will be staging a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan. The event will feature coffee, cakes and a raffle.