FEARS are rising that Corsham police station is to cut its opening hours.

The rural station is currently open to the public from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

But senior Wiltshire police officers have confirmed they are looking at the station's opening hours as part of a resources review.

The force says it has to make the best use of its officers and staff, and changes need to be made.

Now Corsham town councillors fear the axe will fall on the Priory Street station.

Cllr Peter Davis said: "They have said they have budgets to work to, and that could mean we may lose some of the public hours of opening.

"The station will still be manned, and there will be police officers there when it is closed, but it won't be open for people to go in."

Mr Davis said he had contacted Chippenham division boss, Chief Supt Martin Abbott, to discuss the threat to the town's station.

Council chairman Roger Fido said any proposed cut was a concern to the town.

He said: "We have had a letter from Chief Supt Abbott after Mr Davis wrote to him about the concerns in Corsham."

Mr Fido said they had been assured there was no intention to reduce the level of policing in the Corsham area.

Chief Supt Abbott said: "I am disappointed that people think we wish to reduce the level of policing.

"The intention is to police in a far more personal way than we have for the last few years.

"We are constantly looking at the way we police, and I have been concerned for some time that there is no logical basis to the opening hours.

"As far as Corsham is concerned, no decisions have been made, but I do not foresee any significant change."

The opening times of all the rural stations in north and west Wiltshire are now being reviewed.