Huntingdon’s town rangers have been helping to fight crime in the town centre.

According to Cambridgeshire police the three rangers, who patrol the town on a part-time basis, have built strong relationships with officers as well as the CCTV control room to help prevent offences since their arrival in February.

The actions of one ranger led to a 20-year-old woman being arrested and jailed after she stole a woman’s purse.

The ranger, Craig, spotted the incident, near Sainsbury’s, took down a car registration number and passed it to the police, who arrested the woman.

Ornela Lakatosova, 20, of Peterborough, was sentenced at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court to 10 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to theft.

Chief Insp Laura Hunt said: “The rangers are a valuable addition to the town centre team. This is a great example of partnership working, which led to the offender being quickly arrested and brought to justice.”

The rangers are employed by BID Huntingdon, which was launched in the town last November to improve the town centre, helping to increase footfall, and is paid for by local businesses.

BID manager Katy Sismore said: “The fact that we still have the same three rangers shows they have really taken to the job and are committed to the their work in the town.”

Other work undertaken by the rangers over the last seven months includes helping find a vulnerable young adult, returning lost dogs and fetching an inhaler for an elderly woman suffering an asthma attack.