A RURAL bobby who uses two wheels to tackle crime has been given a new bike after the old model she recruited from lost property finally collapsed!

PC Angela Gallagher, who covers the Simonstone and Read villages from Whalley Police Station, has taken to biking round her beat to make sure gets to see as many people as possible.

She's one of the county's few police officers who regular get 'on yer bike' to get out and about.

And now she has a specially-designed bike to patrol the villages ... after the last one finally gave up the ghost. PC Gallagher, the first community beat manager for the two villages, said: "When I first started we used a bike from the property store but it eventually collapsed.

"It was the sort of bike you'd expect to have a basket on the front of. It had narrow tyres, was old and wasn't really up to the job of going on rural roads between Read, Simonstone and Whalley every day.

"The new one is much better. It has suspension, brake lights and even markings on so people know it's a police bike."

In fact, the only thing it is short of is a siren - but that hasn't stopped PC Gallagher racing to the scene of crime when she has been out and about.

She said: "There have been times when I've been closer to the scene of something than other officers in cars and I've pedalled to it.

"At first, people did a double-take but round here they've got used to seeing their bobby on a bike.

"I ride about four miles between the villages every day, so people see me out and about and I think I like that."

PC Gallagher's arrival in the villages gave locals their first dedicated officer, and at a recent meeting of parish councils in the area, she was praised for her work in the area.

Inspector Bob Ford, of Clitheroe Police, said officers on bikes were a rarity.

He said: "It's an excellent idea and local people have really taken to it.

"They like to know there is an officer around for their particular area and the fact PC Gallagher is on a bike means she can cover more of the area while being easy to approach as well.

"Of course, the bike is also fitted with a bell to conform with the law!"