Residents on Quinton's Welsh House Farm estate have been told they will have to wait for a new police base.

A new unit of between five and six new officers, including a sergeant, was expected to be in place at a new base on Blandford Road by the end of the month.

However, plans are set to be delayed while the new site is made compliant with health and safety regulations.

Speaking at the estate's Police Community Consultative Meeting on Monday, ward councillor Len Clark criticised the council's Housing Department for the delay in handing the property over to the police.

Cllr Clark said: "It has taken 12 months for the Housing Department to progress it.

"I can only apologise on the council's behalf.

"I have been told everything will be completed by the end of the month, and the police can then work on the property to bring it into operation."

Pc Fred Matough, of Quinton Police, said the new base was likely to be manned during the hours of 9am and 5pm.

He also revealed there had been a massive reduction in violent crime and assault on the estate in the past year.

He said: "Violent crime used to be a huge problem and officers were dealing with it every day.

"There is no doubt the implementation of neighbourhood policing has helped this."

Pc Matough also told residents the police would undertake an operation to deter speeding motorists on the estate during the next few weeks.