Bovingdon and Chipperfield villagers have welcomed a new bobby to the beat - PC Simon Cooper.

The 40-year-old, who lives in Kings Langley, is the new neighbourhood officer for the two villages.

He will be working alongside PC Johanna Stuart and PCSO Ian Martin, both of whom cover Kings Langley.

PC Cooper, has been a member of the police force for the past 12 years.

He started serving in Watford, four years later progressing to the firearms section of the force.

Despite admitting his new role is a change in pace, he is relishing the challenge.

PC Cooper said: “Everyone has been very welcoming; Bovingdon and Chipperfield are wonderful villages.

“The job is a slightly slower pace than before, but that is not to say the villages are not without their problems.

“An issue which has been highlighted by residents, specifically in Bovingdon, is that of parking in the High Street.

“It is becoming more and more congested, particularly when parents are dropping their children off and picking them up from school.

“We will be seeking to combat this, with patrols, parking tickets and chats with motorists.

“Another issue is speeding through the villages. I am hoping to get speed guns to tackle this problem.

“This may make me little less popular, but these are issues residents have raised and ones we’re keen to remedy.”

PC Cooper has also said he will be working with PC Stuart and PCSO Martin to tackle graffiti which has blighted parts of Kings Langley and Bovingdon.

He added: “We’ll working together as a team for the villages.

“I’ll be out on patrol as often as I can and hope to become a familiar face to residents.

“It’s a new year and I welcome the new challenge.”