MORE car parks in Blackpool are to be covered by watchful electronic eyes in a new plan to deter thieves.

New CCTV cameras are to be installed to watch over the town's peripheral car parks after a grant of £558,950 was awarded to Blackpool Council from the government.

The majority of car parks in the town centre are already covered and the new cameras will watch over peripheral sites and roads.

The hi-tech cameras produce highly detailed colour images in daylight and darkness and can even target and follow individual suspects.

Money will also be spent on enlarging the monitoring room for the town's CCTV service and on a mobile camera.

Councillors hope that these new measures will mean they can be awarded the "Safe and Secure" scheme plaque.

The scheme is a joint venture between police and the AA to assess the safety of a car park.

Coun Roy Fisher, executive member for car parks, said: "In the past many car parks have provided rich pickings for crooks but with even more hi-tech hardware keeping a watchful eye over visitors and residents we will endeavour to stop thieves prowling areas for easy targets.

"I am delighted with this massive Home Office grant to widen the scope of the project."

More than 25,000 cars are parked in Blackpool town centre at times and the introduction of cameras is believed to be responsible for a recent cut of almost a quarter in car crime in the resort.

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