POLICE in the Cotswolds are preparing for the Cheltenham Festival which starts next week.

PC Jason Page told members of Bourton Parish Council that while no extra police would be drafted into the village during the festival as they would be concentrating on Cheltenham, they would remain vigilant.

"We've gone around hotels and leafleted a lot of places," he said. "We do see a rise in crime especially theft from hotel rooms."

Sergeant Richard Payne added: "If there's no concerns other than the normal routine we will police it as normal and react as normal."