Perched on her motorbike and swathed in leathers, Lorna Dennison is the new face of policing on a "forgotten" estate.

PC Dennison will be unmistakable as the new dedicated beat officer in Hollingdean, Brighton.

She was yesterday presented with a new Honda CB250 and is tied full-time to Hollingdean.

She said: "I used to go biking and this will hopefully stave off my pangs of wanting to ride outside the job."

Although PC Dennison is already a well-known face on the estate, the motorcycle means she will save time walking to work every day.

She will certainly be more eye-catching - or "provide a more visible presence" as the police put it.

Chief Inspector Lance Gray said: "Police cars can become invisible as part of the urban furniture.

"In terms of visibility and approachability, the bike is ideal for the officer here."

The bike was provided free by local firm P&H Motorcycles after negotiations with the police force and the Hollingdean Project, which is overseeing £5 million of Government investment over the next ten years.

News of the new bike came at a ceremony to mark their newly-reopened community centre.

The rundown centre has had a complete makeover and marks the first in a series of improvements the community of 10,000 people will see in the coming years.

Opening the centre, with help from elderly resident Lesley Leach, Brighton and Hove Mayor David Watkins said: "Hollingdean has referred to itself as the 'forgotten community'.

"Maybe you feel that nobody thinks of you or remembers you. But I can assure you, they do."