A PETITION to keep six police stations, including one in Risca, open to the public was handed to Gwent Police last week.

Caerphilly MP Wayne David presented the petition of more than 1,000 signatures to Chief Constable Carmel Napier at the Gwent police headquarters in Cwmbran.

The signatures were collected from residents living in the Caerphilly borough in a bid to keep Risca police station open to the public and also stations in Caerphilly, Bargoed, Bedwas, Ystrad Mynach and Rhymney.

The signatures were collected door-to-door and online. The petition calls for the Chief Constable to rethink her decision to make these front station closures.

Mr David said: "I sincerely hope that the Chief Constable will have second thoughts about her plans for the police stations in the borough. Police stations are a source of reassurance in local communities and for the elderly and those living in disadvantaged communities a fully functioning police station is vital."