TRAFFIC warden Caroline Richman is the newest addition to Ryedale's community safety team.

Based at Malton police station, the mother-of-two from Filey is committed to keeping the district's roads and pavements safe for both drivers and pedestrians.

The 40-year-old (pictured) formerly worked as a combat survival officer at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk, a position she held for 18 years.

"All the jobs I've done in the past I've been out and about dealing with people in general and hopefully solving their problems while following regulations," she said.

"My main priority is to keep the roads moving and keep pedestrians safe, and make sure vehicles are not parked causing a hazard."

Mrs Richman said that as well as making sure parking restrictions were upheld, a large part of her role was liasing with the community and being a friendly face for people to ask advice about parking or directions.

"What annoys me is when children are given the wrong impression about traffic wardens. We are another uniform in the street to help them out if they need it," she said.

Covering all the main market towns in the district, as well as Hutton-le-Hole, means her patch is one of the largest in Britain - about 600 square miles.

Updated: 11:35 Wednesday, November 26, 2003