USK residents say policing in rural areas must be improved - and the matter has even reached the ears of Tony Blair.

Huw Edwards, (pictured) MP for Monmouth, raised the issue of policing in Usk during Prime Minister's Question Time, saying a number of Usk residents had formed an emergency committee to deal with the policing in the area.

Mr Edwards said: "Usk town council has been very concerned with the invisible police presence in recent months due to officers deployed to major investigations."

Mr Edwards asked the prime minister whether he would consider continuing current funding to ensure that Gwent Police have a visible police presence in rural areas such as Usk as well as in the deprived urban communities.

Tony Blair said: "I am sure that Gwent will apply to - and I hope receive help through- the rural policing fund."

After the debate, Mr Edwards said that he highlighted the success of Gwent Police and their high detection rate to the prime minister, but he hoped they would not be penalised for their success.

And he added the people of Usk would hopefully be reassured by a more visible police presence.

Usk town councillor John Spenceley, told the Argus the council and many locals were concerned about the level of policing in the area.

He said: "We can sometimes go days before seeing a police officer; we want to get back a certain level of policing in Usk.

"We have asked for a meeting with the chief constable of Gwent Police, Keith Turner, to discuss these issues."

Inspector Allyn Richards, of Abergavenny Police, said that Usk had 24-hour cover from the Abergavenny section and they also had five community constables and one sergeant for Usk.

He added sometimes police officers from Usk were sent on other special investigations when required, as they were from elsewhere in the area, but they had to work with this. He said: "There is always 24-hour policing available from Abergavenny police station for residents."