Five vans which can respond to emergency calls or become mini-police stations have taken to the road in Oxfordshire.

The fleet of vans - which cost a total of £100,000 - have a stowable desk, computer point and a custody cell.

Cycle racks also help them adapt for neighbourhood policing, and patrolling rural areas.

Thames Valley Police's fleet operations manager Dave McDonald said: "The whole concept behind these vans is the maximisation of flexibility.

"One minute they can be used as a response car, the next they can be used as a temporary policing base for officers visiting villages in the county. They are ideal for neighbourhood policing."

There will be one van each for the five local policing areas: Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire, Vale of the White Horse, and Oxford. In all the force has bought 17 of the Vauxhall Vivaro models.

Police Community Support Officer Ben Hughes-Martin, based in Bicester, added: "The fact we will be able to drive to a neighbourhood, park, get our bikes out and patrol means we're more mobile than ever before.

"If we need to travel long distances, we have that capability. If we need to get anywhere locally once we arrive, we have the bikes to help us do that, and if anyone is detained by officers, we can take them into custody in the vehicle."

Christine Weston, chairman of the Thames Valley Police Authority, said: "This is our Christmas present to the public of the Thames Valley."