TWO new policemen have been appointed to pound the rural beat in the Ribble Valley.

Clitheroe-based officer PC John Burke will replace PC Paul Atkinson, who has taken up a communications post in Blackburn, as the officer for the Waddington area.

Non-urgent messages for him can be left on 01200 458717.

The new officer at Hurst Green is PC Mark Wilson, who will move into the village's police house with his family. He replaces PC Ken Bayes, who has retired.

His voicemail number is 01254 353015.

More urgent calls should be made to Clitheroe police station on 01200 443344, or, for ongoing crimes, through the 999 system.