HOUSE burglaries in Church Hill have been reduced by 49 per cent after a police operation to combat the problem was launched.

The news came during a Church Hill neighbourhood group meeting when residents were informed general crime in the area had also fallen by 20 per cent compared to this time last year.

Beat manager, Pc Stan Baker, who covers the whole of the north east police sector, including Matchborough and Winyates, said it was good news.

"There was a major problem with burglaries on this side of town. So uniformed officers together with CID turned their attentions to tackling it," he said.

"And we will continue to do so to get the number of burglaries down even further."