POLICE have been forced to revise their plans before the launch of a new modernised helpdesk at the town centre headquarters.

Eight trained staff, plus supervisors, started work this week on a new inquiry counter at the Arpley Street station which, it is hoped, will reduce the time people are kept waiting when reporting a crime.

With opening hours extended from 8am to 11pm, the move is designed to meet the public's demand for a better police response.

Police were forced to backtrack when council bosses cited the headquarters' listed building status to scupper initial blueprints to transform the front of the station.

Planning permission was originally refused by the Town Hall because creating a second door would involve removing some of the building's existing stonework.

Speaking to the Guardian, Chief Inspector Steve Littlejohn said that police had decided to revamp the existing facilities.

But he insisted that police were not scaling down their plans, saying: "We want to make sure that people can call to the station and have their inquiries dealt with quickly and efficiently. This will leave the officers on the streets where they will be able to deal with more reactive crime.

"I can assure the public that if they come down to the police station they will get a good service."