A FOREST of Dean garage has sponsored two new patrol cars which will be used by rural beat officers.
The Skoda Felicia estate cars have been donated by Bob Morgan, who runs the Winner Garage in Cinderford, and the Skoda company.
Inspector Dave Smith of Cinderford Police said: "We are extremely grateful to Mr Morgan, and to Skoda, for their generosity.
"These vehicles will certainly help to maintain and improve the service we provide to our local communities."
And Assistant Chief Constable Peter Todd added: "We have been keen to expand our policing services in the rural areas for some time although the constant reduction in policing budgets has hampered this expansion.
"This generous contribution by Winner Garage provides and exciting opportunity to work in partnership with local business to benefit the community as a whole, by providing a higher profile police presence within the Forest of Dean."
On Wednesday this week rural beat police officers Roger Hall and Rob Dix officially took delivery of the new cars.
Bob Morgan, who runs the Winner Skoda franchise in Valley Road, says he has long been a supporter of community policing and believes in forging closer links between the police and the public.
The two cars will be painted in distinctive police livery. They will be used by the officers to make higher frequency calls throughout the Forest area.