HELLO, hello, hello. Prestwich finally has a town centre police station! Years of campaigning have come to fruition with the opening of the new station in Fairfax Road.

It will have a public inquiry counter, which is a first for Prestwich, open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Residents are invited to drop in and meet the officers.

The station was officially opened on Saturday (Oct 19) by local MP Ivan Lewis, who described it as an honour.

"The relocation of the police station has been a major issue for many years and I am delighted that we now have a manned station in the heart of the town," he said.

"This, along with the new CCTV system, demonstrates that we are taking real steps to combat crime."

The Bury South MP is a lifelong Prestwich resident, and said that the town had never been in a more exciting position.

"Never before has so much investment, both private and public, been poured into the town," he said.

Apart from the police station and CCTV, Mr Lewis cited the new Marks and Spencer store and ongoing improvement works to the Longfield Centre.

"After years of decline Prestwich is now firmly on the up and I would like to pay tribute to all those who have worked so hard to get us to this position."