A neighbourhood policing project in the Bradford district is creating widespread interest among other police forces.

Rural police contact points - often staffed by volunteers - are viewed as one of the West Yorkshire force's most outstanding assets.

Senior delegates visiting from Sweden, Ireland, Wales and the West Midlands have all been impressed by the level of community involvement in policing.

A police and community contact point at Holden Hall, Oakworth, is the latest to open.

There are six police contact points in the Keighley division and that number will rise to nine in the next month - more than anywhere else in West Yorkshire.

Inspector Owen West, who is in charge of neighbourhood policing in Shipley, said: "The contact points are important because they give the public easy access to information about police.

"We believe the public should be able to see their neighbourhood policing team regularly and should know how to get hold of them.

"The way we do things is being held up as the model. Even Sweden has come out here to look at our policing.

"As well as the contact points, the division has got a lot of extra PCSOs coming on-line to allow us to expand our neighbourhood policing teams."

Worth Valley Police and Community Contact Point in Main Street, Haworth, has been hailed a success as the first of its kind in the district, serving Haworth, Oakworth and Oxenhope.

From Wilsden to Silsden and from Cottingley to Cullingworth, communities are seeing the benefits of the newly-established contact points.

One of the latest to be set up is in Baildon, based in the Methodist Centre . It is staffed by three volunteers and is open twice a week, from 10am to 2pm on Mondays and from 9.30am to noon on Wednesdays.

Volunteer Susan Turner said: "People tell us or seek advice about a range of issues, like nuisance youths, doorstep scams, speeding or parking. It enriches the village."

Silsden's contact point opened in the temporary location of the town hall.

Inspector Tony Walker, of Keighley police, said: "It is important that we are in the most accessible place possible to the public. They will be able to pop into the Town Hall, have a chat with us and get a whole range of advice."

He added that plans were also underway to fund a larger contact point open for more hours.

Bradford Council has put £250,000 of its base budget towards setting up contact points.

Officers in the Bradford North Policing Division area also keen to establish contact points.

One has just been launched at Wrose Community Centre, which is staffed by a PC and a Police Community Support Officer between noon and 1pm every Tuesday.

Sergeant Tom Casey, of Bradford North neighbourhood policing team, said: "We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and nuisance.

"We want to promote community contact between the police, the public and our partners."

Councillor Margaret Eaton, leader of Bradford Council and co-chairman of the Safer Communities Partnership, said: "Community contact points were initially set up to give people in rural areas easier access to the police and other agencies including the Council and Citizen's Advice Bureaux. They would not succeed without the work of a number of very committed volunteers."

Shipley MP Philip Davies said: "Contact points are a great idea, but the police should not see these as an alternative to having a properly manned police station. I would still like to see Bingley and Shipley Police stations opening for longer."

The places with contact points are Haworth, Cullingworth, Denholme, Cottingley, Silsden, Baildon, Wyke, Wibsey, Queensbury, Thornton, Wrose and Oakworth. Two places, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Saltaire, will soon launch contact points.