JEREMY Browne used his maiden House of Commons speech as Taunton MP to call for Somerset to have its own police force.

He told Parliament last Thursday that the county is largely rural and has very different policing requirements to a large city like Bristol.

"There is a widespread feeling particularly in West Somerset that the crime requirements in Bristol and the need to reduce crime on behalf of Avon and Somerset police mean that priority is not always given to Somerset and West Somerset," said Mr Browne.

For the full story, see this week's Somerset County Gazette.