Farmer Dennis Scofield

In Pontrhydfendigaid - typical of many small villages throughout rural Wales - the former police station was an end of terrace house where the community constable lived and worked.

With the nearest police station now 20 miles away, and police response times averaging 30 minutes, people in the village feel particularly vulnerable.

"We're about 16 miles from Aberystwyth and about 18 miles from Lampeter which is the next main police station, so it's not acceptable," said farmer Dennis Scofield, who recently had a brand new electric fence unit stolen.

And while the farming community takes security seriously, they say making farms totally secure is almost an impossible task.

"The trouble is how do you make everything on a farm safe? You can't lock everything up," said Mr Scofield.

Security is a concern in Pontrhydfendigaid

Now the villagers are showing their frustration and have presented Dyfed-Powys Police with a petition calling for increased police presence.

"You see the odd car going past now and again and if there's a major incident, they've got to turn out," said villager Gerwyn Jones.

"But the feeling is when people do phone up about various offences, they'd like to see a better response on the day rather than just filing things in the police station in Aberystwyth."