CRIME-fighting residents are celebrating the opening of a long-awaited police office for Jaywick.

The office, at the Enterprise Centre in Lotus Way, Jaywick, has been opened following a long campaign for a police facility in the resort.

Residents have been calling for a permanent station or office since the police building in Marlowe Road was closed more than 15 years ago.

Since the closure, Jaywick has been entirely policed by officers based at Clacton police station.

But after the opening of the office, following a £13,400 grant from the Tendring Council-run Neighbourhood Interaction Board, police officers will be based at the unit.

PC Tom Coppin, neighbourhood specialist officer, said: "The Jaywick police station is now open and being used as a patrol base by police officers and police community support officers on a daily basis.

"This is where residents will have an opportunity to speak on a one-to-one basis about any concerns they may have about the local area."

The project was mooted in August 2006 by the neighbourhood partnership, which has been set up to dish out £3.7 million in Government grants to improve life for residents in Jaywick's Golf Green ward and Clacton's Pier ward.