POLICE in Backwell are appealing for a CCTV camera for the village to prevent antisocial behaviour.

POLICE in Backwell are appealing for a CCTV camera for the village to prevent antisocial behaviour.

The police are working with Backwell Parish Council to try to get funding for a mobile camera which

could be moved to trouble spots in the area.

Officers have often been called out to deal with groups of youngsters hanging around the shops in Rodney Road by Spar in the evenings.

A number of residents have also complained about underage drinking and vandalism in the village and police believe a camera could deter youngsters from getting up to mischief.

Section inspector, Steve Date, said: "Backwell has got some money available to be used for crime, disorder and nuisance problems.

"We've had problems raised about youths coming from other areas and causing trouble in the village.

"Youths are coming from as far as Congresbury and Long Ashton to meet up there and there has been underage drinking and antisocial behaviour.

"We set up an operation around the station and the Spa shop recording details of youngsters and sending letters home to parents.

"Some of the time they are not committing offences, it's just the sheer number of them which is intimidating.

"When we are not there, a CCTV camera would help to monitor their activities, which will be very useful. It's just another part of the approach we are taking with the youths down there."

In December the windows of the Spar in Rodney Road were smashed during an attempted break-in which caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

There is already a CCTV camera outside the Spar, pointing across the street at the car park, but the manager of the shop, Jackie Watts, is keen to get a new camera to face the store.

She said: "We've had a lot of trouble in the past with children congregating outside and it's puts a lot of people off coming here, especially the elderly.

"We are all for a new camera."

Backwell Parish Council chairman, Colin Pope, said: "We've got a working party looking into the possibility of putting a CCTV camera up in Rodney Road, but no decision has been made yet.

"We are hoping to meet with the police to discuss the issue further.