EIGHT CCTV cameras are set to hit the streets of Stourport as the fight to stamp out anti-social behaviour and mindless vandalism hots up.

Window smashing, fighting and urinating in public have become a huge headache for town centre shop owners in recent months, but up to a dozen of the £834 devices will be in operation within weeks in the battle to beat the criminals.

Stourport Town Centre Management Forum chairman Derek Fradgley said: "This is brilliant news and things are looking really positive now.

"The Stourport Business Association will subsidise the first eight cameras for £300 each, so the firms will only have to pay £534 to have a fully fitted and installed monitor, which is what any other businesses interested will have to pay.

"As some windows are costing £800 to replace when they are smashed, the value for money of these cameras is plain for all to see.

"If they reduce vandalism as expected, they will be absolutely priceless."

He said in the past fortnight five windows in the town centre were smashed, and a gang beat up a man as he started his car in Bridge Street.

"This is what needs to stop. People must feel safe in this tourist town", added Mr Fradgley.

"We need to spread the message about the value of these cameras.

"They seem to be the only option, especially to make drunken yobs think twice."

Of the eight businesses which have agreed to buy a camera, four are in High Street and two each are in Bridge Street and Lombard Street.

The cameras will produce images of sufficient quality to be used as evidence by police, and include a monitor and timelapse video.

Stourport mayor Michael Grinnall said he hoped they would cut out cruel behaviour too, with reference to an incident when a multiple sclerosis sufferer had her walking stick taken from her and glasses knocked off by a gang of teenagers as she tried to leave a Bridge Street shop.

Interested businesses can obtain further details about funding grants available by calling Mr Fradgley on 01299 825255.