POLICE officers are taking to two wheels in their fight against crime thanks to a gift from their landlord.

Newtown's Community Resource Centre's (NCRC) management and staff have given the officers, who are based in the building, a top-of-the-range mountain bike, to be used mostly by police community support officer (PCSO) Andrew Cartwright, as he patrols Stockton's Newtown, Ragworth and Wrensfield estates.

PCSO Cartwright said: "It means I can get to the homes, schools and businesses I see on a daily basis in no time - and it will free up operational vehicles for other tasks."

His colleague, neighbourhood PC Lee Kirk said: "Neighbourhood policing is all about being highly visible and approachable to the communities we serve, and this will help us immeasurably."

NCRC's coordinator, Pam Bighi, said: "We have a great relationship with the neighbourhood police teams at Newtown and Norton Grange and are only too pleased to be able to make a positive contribution to their efforts to reduce crime in the area."