YOBS are being warned to watch out or have their behaviour caught on camera.

In the latest bid to fight crime in Ramsbottom town centre, the area's Rotary club have raised enough funds to buy a mobile closed circuit television camera for the town.

Now, members are waiting for the police to give them the go-ahead.

The move follows a successful trial scheme by Ramsbottom police last year. The project was in response to increasingly rowdy behaviour by youths in the town centre during the long summer evenings.

Earlier this year the problem flared up again, leading shop owners to claim the only solution was to have a camera monitoring their activities full time.

Last spring police set up cameras around the town centre. Their four-week initiative resulted in 16 youths - including girls - being cautioned and one prosecution.

However, lack of funds meant police were unable to continue the scheme - which was manned voluntarily by Ramsbottom Police and special constables.

This led the Rotary club to discuss the possibility of obtaining their own camera.

The video camera would be moved around the area, including Holcombe. It could even be used inside shop premises.

Spokesman Mr Eric Walmersley said: "We have raised the funds to buy a camera and we are in talks with the police as to which camera to buy."

The camera is estimated to cost in the region of £2,000.

A police spokesman said: "A report has been compiled on the requirements of the Rotary club, and we will know within a fortnight as to what the next step is."

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