RESIDENTS of Bude and surrounding areas are being urged to stop and say hello to their newly appointed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) when they see him out and about.

PCSO Gary Langan, who was born and still lives in mid-Devon, has been a retained firefighter for the Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service for the past six years and will be carrying on that role alongside his new position with the police.

He started with the police in June and has spent the past couple of months getting to grips with Bude and it’s surrounding areas, and has recently been able to start patrolling independently.

PCSO Langan said: “I’m responsible for Bude rural and Bude town itself — It’s a lovely area to come to work.

“I don’t really know the area very well yet, but I’m looking forward to getting to know everywhere better. I must say, it looks like a cracking place to be, especially in the summer with the beaches and sea.

“I’d also like to encourage anyone who sees me out and about to come and have a chat with me — not just with any problems, anything, whether someone needs some advice or just wants to talk.”

PCSO Langan can be contacted along with the rest of the neighbourhood team on a non-emergency basis in the following ways: the force web page which is www.devon-cornwall.police.uk, by calling 101 or by appointment.