EVESHAM is thought to be leading the way nationally with a new initiative - announced today - that brings together police and local authorities in a seven-day-a-week one-stop advice shop.

Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council and West Mercia Constabulary will all be represented under one roof in the former Evesham Magistrates' Court building, in Abbey Road, from early next year.

The initiative - to be known as Evesham Community Contact Centre - builds on existing collaborative working that already takes place between the local authorities involved but takes it a significant stage further, by involving the police.

It is believed to be the first centre of its type anywhere in the country and there are plans to open similar facilities elsewhere throughout the other district council areas within Worcestershire once it is up and running in Evesham.

When it opens its doors for the first time, on March 3, 2003, the Evesham Community Contact Centre will have staff able to deal with inquiries about topics ranging from noisy neighbours to dog mess and including social services issues and reporting a crime.

Councillor David Noyes, the Wychavon executive board member responsible for one-stop shops, said: "It's the first time the police and the local authorities have got together in this sort of way.

He added: "It's nice it's being driven by us and the police."

West Mercia acting chief inspector Sharon Gibbons explained that the idea for the centre had been prompted by occasional confusion among members of the public about whether they should talk to police or council representatives about their problems.

"People often come to the police station or to the council with a problem," she said, "They don't really know who is the right person to speak to about it.

"It was recognised that, when people have an issue, they want to go to one place to get an answer."

She went on: "Under the Crime and Disorder Act, we're required to work closely with local and district councils, so this is an extension of that."

When it begins operating, the centre will be open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Although the magistrates' court will get a new lease of life under the scheme, the loss of the court to the town was greeted with protests by residents. The Magistrates' Courts Committee met on Monday to make a formal declaration that the Evesham Court will close after November 30 this year.