Last September town councillor Tony Heath told the Courier he feared the system, in which the town loses its police cover once a month so officers can help in Leamington town centre, was leaving residents vulnerable to crime.

Four months on, Coun Heath, who works as a taxi driver, believes better organised rotas for Whitnash officers has made the town safer.

He said: "It has given us more coverage. In the past we were often faced with two people off at the same time.

"I expected our police would be called away to the Brunswick ward a lot more than they have because of all the problems there but they haven't been."

Last autumn the town's Safer Neighbourhoods team decided to join forces with officers in south Leamington to provide both areas with extra support for major incidents.

Before the change the town suffered from problems including anti-social behaviour, graffiti and damage to the Acre Close playing field and community centre.

Such incidents have become rarer - but Coun Heath, who lives in the town with his wife Jennifer, does not believe the problems are solved. He said: "It has been quiet over Christmas.

"I think it is the weather at this time of year that stops anti-social behaviour as it is too cold for them to be hanging about on the streets. We shall have to wait and see what happens."

Like other towns and villages across the district, Whitnash officers are called away from the area one weekend a month to provide cover in Leamington town centre.

Police community support officer Mike Green said: "I think policing in Whitnash is really good. We have help from the Brunswick team who are assisting us with patrols when we need them.

"I think it's the way we have integrated with local youths and there hasn't been people coming in from other areas.

"Once we were made aware that youths were coming from Sydenham and Warwick we let the relevant beats know they were coming in."

Mr Green believes the town, which has one police constable and two community support officers, is adequately covered even when officers are on duty in Leamingon town centre.

He added: "There is always someone covering Whitnash even when officers are working in Leamington. We have a rapid response vehicle which drives around the area and people can call Leamington police station in an emergency."