Newent Town Council is considering funding an advertising campaign to get volunteers to staff the police station's reception desk.

Normally, the station has no-one on reception and visitors make contact with officers through an intercom system connected to police headquarters.

The idea of having volunteers on the desk was first mooted several months ago and the town council agreed to help promote the campaign.

But only one volunteer has stepped forward and more would be needed to make the idea feasible.

At this week's full council meeting in the Market Hall, a number of town councillors questioned whether it was the council's duty to fund an advertising campaign to find volunteer staff for the police station.

But it was agreed that, with the support of the police, adverts for volunteers should be placed in local newspapers.