BIG Brother is watching a Preston housing estate thanks to a £200,000 Government grant to supply the area with new security cameras.

The troubled Callon estate, off New Hall Lane in Preston, will be the first residential area in Preston to get help from CCTV cameras. The estate is officially in the country's top 23 per cent of deprived areas, and housing groups hope the grant, worth £203,028, will cut crime.

Richard Lowthian, Callon estate housing manager, said: "We've worked really hard with local residents to secure this new CCTV scheme -- which is a key part of Collingwood's plans to improve the estate. It will help to reassure residents and reduce the fear of crime."

Funding for the 32 cameras has come from the Government.

Preston town centre has benefited from a £73,200 boost to supply the main shopping streets with new cameras. Ten cameras will be installed to make the walk from Preston town centre to the station safer, and also to protect the University.

The hi-tech cameras will be monitored 24 hours a day from the police station.

Chief Superintendent Bernard Lawson, divisional commander of Preston police, said: "CCTV is extremely effective in helping us detect and deter crime. It gives our officers on the ground an advantage and provides conclusive evidence for the courts. It is a major tool in our fight against crime so these new cameras are a tremendous boost."