AN AWARD-WINNING former PCSO is swapping the beat for the streets of Halesowen after she was appointed head of a team devoted to helping town businesses.

Vicky Rogers, who was a police community support officer (PCSO) in Dudley, will now be a familiar face in Halesowen, after taking over as manager of the town's Business Improvement District (BID).

The married mum-of-two takes over from Rebecca Howard, who left the role after nine months, in the new year.

Vicky was named West Midlands Police’s PCSO of the Year in 2018 after identifying more than 100 shoplifters in just nine months.

She was hailed the pride of Dudley by retailers who turned to her for help in catching some of town centre’s most prolific thieves.

But the 40-year-old decided it was time to make a change after 17 years as a PCSO and now she is determined to be an effective head of the BID.

Vicky said there are a whole host of events in the pipeline including a jazz festival, an enchanted mushroom trail on Saturday April 6, a bungee trampoline in Somers Square on Wednesday April 17, a climbing wall in the square on Wednesday April 24 and a Black Country festival day on Saturday June 29 - the day before the Black Country Fun Run.

Vicky, who is married to a police officer and lives in Wombourne, said: "I'm meeting some really lovely people who are passionate about Halesowen.

"I'm driving the BID forward because we are two years into the five year plan, so we are making sure things are implemented.

"At the moment things are centred around the town centre - but it's important to reach out to industrial areas such as the Shenstone Estate and pockets of business around the area to ensure everyone is getting a slice of the cake."

BID director Tony Billingham said: "I think Vicky will do an excellent job for Halesowen - she's got the personality and the experience and comes highly recommended."

Business Improvement Districts are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses. Each business across the BID area has to pay a 1.25 per cent levy towards BID work which aims to attract interest and investment to the town.