PEOPLE in Pinner got the opportunity to delve into the history of a local police station yesterday.

Dozens of people took advantage of a rare chance to see the cells and artefacts of the Victorian Pinner Police Station, which has stood in Waxwell Lane since 1899.

They were treated to the site of police officers modelling some vintage outfits, including Inspector Dave Burgum, who is in charge of the station, dressed as a Peeler from the 1820s, complete with top hat and britches.

He said: “The day has been received well. It is something we would like to be a yearly event.

“It's an opportunity to come in and see what we're all about.

“It's a really good way for people in the community to get to know us and come and see the history of the station.

“I think it's an excellent idea to engage with the public, especially the younger members who can come and meet their local police officers.

“Pinner's quite unique as it has that friendly, village atmosphere, and this station has recently been reborn.”

Among some of the historical artefacts on show were handcuffs, police log books, maps from the Second World War, police hats and truncheons.

There three fully functioning vintage police cars, ranging from a 1950s Wolseley and a Jaguar S-type, lovingly restored by PC Dave Butler, of Ruislip Manor Safer Neighbourhood Team, to a modern Community Support Patrol car, and a police mountain bike.

Historian and retired policeman Neil Watson, who charted the history of the station, gave visitors a guided tour of the station revealing some of its more colourful history, including the story of the ghost which stalks the cells in the evenings.