TOWNSFOLK have agreed to continue pledging financial support to provide more than 30 CCTV cameras across the town, despite the failure of a bid to the Government.

Redditch Community Safety Partnership submitted four bids worth a total of £800,000 but was turned down by the Home Office last month.

Yet despite the knockback the group is determined to carry on looking for other funding sources for the scheme.

Woodrow, Church Hill, Matchborough and Winyates shopping centres, Batchley, Headless Cross, Trafford Park, St George's and Arrow Valley Countryside Centre were all highlighted in the bids.

But many residents and businesses, who provided pledges worth a total of £15,000 towards the project, have given their support and wish to see it continued.

Sgt Roger Thatcher, of Redditch police and the partnership, said: "Many people who had pledged funds have said they are prepared to continue to support the scheme and we very much appreciate their commitment to seeing the project through.

"We are looking at other funding options and we are determined to explore other areas."

Community safety officer Tariq Khan said: "We are looking at further funding from the Home Office. When we had the rejection letter it said there was a possibility of further funding from the Home Office but we don't know what format that would take and we are waiting for the outcome.

"We are exploring other options too and there should be a clearer picture in the next three or four months."

He added: "We will continue to battle to improve the quality of life for residents and if that means CCTV then we will battle to get CCTV."