VOLUNTEERS are needed to keep a police station open to the public and free up officers for frontline duties.

Nearly 18 months after its original closure, Pinner Station, Waxwell Lane, is again close to shutting its front desk and losing its link to the community.

In an effort to prevent the closure, Harrow police are urging civilians to come forward and volunteer their free time to staff the reception.

Inspector Aidan Gibson will be outside supermarkets in Pinner and Hatch End this weekend (Feb 9 and 10) seeking help.

He said: "We are hoping to train volunteers to be able to keep the station open for two hours a day, from Monday to Friday. However, this will depend on how many volunteers we get and what times they want to work as we will not dictate that the station will be open at a certain time." The station originally closed in July 2000 along with Edgware Station, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware and Wealdstone Station, High Street, Wealdstone, following a staffing crisis.

Wealdstone was re-opened in December by Chief Superintendent Duncan Jarrett, partly due to public demand following the murder of Pinner resident John Pettit in October that year.

But Pinner remained closed until September 2001 when a trial period was agreed by police bosses. It currently opens each Wednesday, from 4pm to 7pm, and is staffed by members of the Community Action Team.

The trial was due to end in January but an extension was agreed until March when the station will close indefinitely unless more volunteers are found.

Insp Gibson will be at Sainsbury's in High Street, Pinner on Saturday, and Safeway in Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, on Sunday, from 10am until 4pm. Information is also available from Metropolitan Police Service, Volunteers in Policing, Harrow Police Station, FREEPOST, Harrow, HA2 0BR.