RESIDENTS in Oswaldtwistle will soon be seeing a new face around town.

PC Tracey Finn will begin pounding the town's streets next week as she takes up her role as community beat manager, the first in the Accrington area.

PC Finn, 43, will be working closely with the community and will spend the first few weeks forging links with Rhyddings High School, Haworth Street, Oswaldtwistle, and Oswaldtwistle Youth and Community Centre, based on Harvey Street.

Community beat managers are being introduced into Lancashire Constabulary's Eastern division in a drive to bring policing back to the community.

Chief superintendent John Thompson, divisional commander for the Eastern division, said: "The whole concept of community beat managers is fundamental to our intelligence-led, problem solving approach. At the same time, the officers will provide reassurance to those members of the public who are asking for a visible and dedicated police officer."

PC Finn is no stranger to Oswaldtwistle having worked on the area team for the last 18 months.

She has already spent time with staff and pupils at Rhyddings High School, and will be visiting the youth and community centre tomorrow to introduce herself to residents and workers from the area.

"Once people get to know me, I hope they will feel able to approach me with any issue or problem," she said.

"I think it's really important we have police officers working closely with schools and youth centres. I feel I already know the area and some of the people and feel it's the right time to get stuck in."