A SERIES of meetings is being held to give people in West Somerset a chance to air their views on community safety, crime and disorder.

The police and district council have joined together to form the West Somerset Crime and Disorder Partnership which is staging five meetings in November.

District council chief executive Tim Howes said: "It's important that we take every opportunity to allow residents to air their views and concerns on these issues.

"Crime and vandalism have affected most of us at some time. The police need to hear about people's concerns in order to target their resources as efficiently as possible and tackle the problems, whether they are localised or widespread."

Two meetings will be held next week - on Tuesday at Dulverton Town Hall and, for the Williton and A39 to Stogursey area, on Thursday at Williton Red Cross Centre.

Exford Village Hall will host a meeting on November 20, Porlock Village Hall on November 21 and Watchet Baptist Church on November 27. All meetings start at 7pm.

The Minehead area meeting was held in September and led to the formation of a community safety working group which met on October 23. Further Minehead consultation will take place in January.