Wickford railway station's car park is set to be redesigned in an attempt to combat car crime.

CCTV and patrolling security officers have already been brought in to the station to wipe out car-related crimes.

Motorists who leave valuables on display in their cars while commuting for the day are to be written to and advised to think again.

As part of an on-going attempt by First Great Eastern to make its car parks more secure, advice leaflets were handed out to passengers in Wickford.

The word is to be spread around all other First Great Eastern stations to improve security.

Keith Jackson, crime prevention officer from London Transport Police, said: "The purpose of this initiative is to alert vehicle users to the need to consider the security of vehicles when they are parked at station car parks.

"Good security acts as a deterrent, slowing thieves down and forcing them to use tools which are hard to conceal.

"When it is hot, people deliberately leave car windows down and often leave valuables on display. We need to encourage people not to do those things.

"We are also looking at the design of this car park to try to reduce crime. There is a lot of foliage around which provides hiding places."

Sgt Nick Brook of British Transport Police, said: "We get quite a lot of car crime in car parks as a whole. We do a lot of operations to catch thieves but car owners can do a lot to help themselves.

"The rail staff and police are going to be working together to stamp this out."

Thieves beware - car owner Gavin Searley gets some tips from PC Gary Jennings of British Transport Police, Alan Perry of Great Eastern and police crime prevention officer Keith Jackson

Picture: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.