Plans to install a monitored CCTV system in Bromyard will not be taken any further.

The town council's CCTV working party wanted five cameras at locations around the town, including the playing fields and Rowberry Street.

Last year, Herefordshire Council suggested the cameras could be linked to its central control room in Hereford, where they could be monitored for free.

But it is now asking for a contribution of around £6,600 towards the monitoring service, due to a funding shortfall.

Bromyard Town Council was due to spend £100,000 on a complete monitored camera system, using some of the money gained from the sale of the Clive Richards Room.

Coun Nick Cronin, chairman of the CCTV working party, said: "We were led to believe that Herefordshire Council was going to give us the service for free."

He said the increased cost and the fact that Herefordshire Council could increase its required contribution at any time, made him reluctant to proceed.

At a meeting of the town council on Monday, members decided to hand the project over to local group Town Watch.

The independent group, which carries out patrols of the town and reports incidents to police, will get a grant of £3,000 from the council this year, to help set up a system.

Coun Cronin said he had spoken with representatives of the group and said they had discussed installing static cameras which would not be monitored, but would be constantly recording.

"This would mean the police could go back and look through the tapes if they needed to," he said.

Coun Cronin said installing static cameras would cost nowhere near as much as setting up a monitored system and that Town Watch would be able to apply for other grants.

"The situation is far from ideal but it is better than nothing," he said.