A team of neighbourhood police officers in Oxford may be seen walking the beat less often - as they now have a new patrol car to get around in.

Motorworld Volkswagen, in Iffley Road, has handed the keys of a new Volkswagen Fox to the officers covering the Jericho, Abingdon Road and West Oxford areas.

Pc Jan Warner is part of the team covering the beat - where officers have to do many of their patrols on foot or on bicycle.

She said: "We're thrilled to receive this car from Motorworld. It will be used to visit residents and attend meetings and generally to get to people in the community who need our help and support, as we cover an area of approximately 5,000 homes and numerous businesses."

She said it was planned to take the car to local events to publicise the team's work.

Ms Warner added: "We hope the vehicle will make us a recognisable service within the community."

Oxford police commander Supt Brendan O'Dowda attended the handover of the car.

He said: "The relationship between the neighbourhood team and staff at Motorworld Garage demonstrates how a local business is contributing to neighbourhood policing in the city.

"It's real evidence of partnership working and we're very grateful to Motorworld for giving the team this car.

"It will increase their visibility and allow them to cover their neighbourhood more effectively."

The neighbourhood team ran public consultation meetings on their patch earlier this year and residents said the three priority issues they wanted officers to tackle were drugs, speeding traffic and graffiti.

Officers have been working with partners in the community, along with the neighbourhood action group, to tackle those priorities.

Lyn Molony, of Motorworld, part of the Botley-based Midcounties Co-op, said: "The community support officers are crucial in making the area safer and looking after the local residents.

"We're delighted to be able to supply them with a car that will make this job easier for them."