Police are doubling their reliance on volunteers to staff station front desks and tackle paperwork.

There are 108 volunteer police staff working in Oxfordshire, carrying out a range of administrative jobs.

Now Thames Valley Police is planning to recruit 1,000 more volunteers over the next two years.

They will join the 512 volunteer staff already working in the region.

It is not known how many of the new recruits will be coming to Oxfordshire.

Earlier this month police stations in Deddington, Burford, Eynsham and Charlbury became fully operational when volunteer staff finished training to man the front desks.

Volunteers carry out a range of jobs for paid police officers, including recording and storing lost and found property, and monitoring CCTV.

They also provide administrative work for officers who are investigating crimes, and help out with community safety and crime reduction initiatives.

Julie Currill, police volunteer support team co-ordinator, said: "The role of volunteers in Thames Valley Police is to support and complement the work of police officers and staff.

"They contribute their free time and assistance to Thames Valley Police and the communities we serve."

Since the development of neighbourhood policing across Oxfordshire volunteers have also been assisting officers at mobile police stations in villages and on estates, and in training officers. The police proposals aims to have 1,000 volunteers in their posts by April 2010.