A HI-TECH device could be planted above a medieval town square to give Axbridge a place in cyberspace and catch antisocial yobs on camera

A HI-TECH device could be planted above a medieval town square to give Axbridge a place in cyberspace and catch antisocial yobs on camera.A plan is being hatched to install a 'webcam' above The Square, broadcasting the town to millions across the world via the internet.Town councillors hope the scheme would promote Axbridge as a tourist destination.Councillors also believe recent antisocial problems could be quelled if troublesome youths knew their antics were being watched, and hope the police could also make use of the scheme.Events such as the Blackberry Carnival, which attracted worldwide interest this year, could also be broadcast live.Councillors are yet to agree on the idea though and residents and groups such as the Town Trust would have to be consulted before the proposal is approved.The council has put £700 aside for the project but hopes the cost could be reduced if businesses in the Chamber of Commerce help to sponsor the scheme.The webcam would be screened from the town's website www.axbridge-tc.gov.ukCouncillor Jeremy Gall, who helps control the website, came up with the idea.He said: "The promotion of the town is the main objective and the webcam could broadcast events in The Square to the world, like the carnival and the Somerset Showcase."It's publicity in a global sense but the cost is the main issue. The technology is not that expensive, the main costs would be a telephone line and we would have to subscribe to a broadband package. "By having this access we are setting the scene for the future with the possibility of having an IT facility in the Town Hall, like Wedmore does.""It could become an information point for people who don't have PCs in their homes."This first occurred to me after the recent problems in The Square. If we had a webcam it could be quite a deterrent to people misbehaving."This is not CCTV and not something police could use for prosecution."The benefit is intangible but I think the fact that antisocial behaviour is being exposed would discourage it."The police would also be able to monitor it and see what goes on.