A PLEA has been made for overhanging tree branches in Nelson town centre to be cut back to aid the town’s crimefighting efforts.

Ageing trees, especially along Scotland Road, are hampering the performance of closed circuit security cameras as foliage obscures sightlines up and down the street, town hall watchdogs have revealed.

A leading councillor has backed calls for the trees to be kept under control, amid concerns that the problem has already hampered police investigations. Coun Mohammed Iqbal, Labour group leader and Bradley ward member, said: “The problem is that there are quite a number of CCTV cameras on Scotland Road, and across the town centre, where trees have grown and blocked out the view.

“I am aware, in the last few months, of a couple of incidents where someone has been attacked, or there has been vandalism, and police have said that they cannot view CCTV footage because there is a tree in the way. People were reassurred when the cameras were installed, because they