LUDLOW is to lose its police station it was confirmed last week.

The move is part of a major shake up to policing in south Shropshire as the West Mercia force looks to make savings of more than £20 million.

As reported in the Advertiser last year the police station was under threat although at the time police dismissed this as rumour.

But rumour has become reality with confirmation the police station will close although there will be a satellite station in another building in the area.

Cleobury Mortimer has been designated a community policing post which may mean officers having access to a desk in places such as schools, shopping centres or community centres.

This is also the model for the future of policing in Craven Arms, while Church Stretton has been designated a neighbourhood team base.

In Bishops Castle negotiations are already taking place to provide a police presence from the Enterprise House community facility.

West Mercia Police says that reducing the number of buildings will save £1.5 million.

David Shaw, chief constable of West Mercia, pointed the way things were going when he played down the importance of police stations last month.

The police chief said that buildings may offer reassurance but not protection that came from of ficers being in a position to respond to incidents.

Under the changes all of the permanent standalone police stations in south Shropshire with the exception of Church Stretton will disappear.

The loss of the Ludlow police station comes a year after the town lost its court house after hundreds of years.

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has previously said that he will resist and closure of the station in the town.