AFTER 40 years of waiting, Abbots Langley residents finally got their own police station when it was opened in an official ceremony on Tuesday.

The new community office, in a former parish council-owned building at Manor Lodge, will be used as a base by the community team and police community support officers.

The aim is to provide a more visible police presence in the town to support the community and retail outlets.

Chief Superintendent Jeremy Alford, Western Area commander, said that the opening of the station was a culmination of good partnership work between Abbots Langley Parish Council, Three Rivers District Council and the police. He said: "Abbots Langley had one of the largest populations in the western area without its own police station. It has been needed for a long time. We will now be based in the heart of the community.

"This says a lot about the policy of visibility, making sure that local officers are seen in local communities. It is our vision to locate and build police stations in the heart of communities. The Abbots Langley station will support our policing style that is led by visibility, accessibility and intelligence."

Previously, officers working in Abbots Langley were based in Rickmansworth. With the opening of the new station, they can now be based in the heart of the town.

The station is fitted with an enquiry desk, which will be supported by volunteers while community officers will be able to devote more of their time to local matters.

Sara Bedford, leader of Abbots Langley Parish Council, said: "We have got a superb bank of local officers and this new station will make their job so much easier. It will provide a public centre that people can come into. It will mean that the villagers know their local officers. It will improve service to the Abbots Langley community."