LEADING citizens are taking on local yobs with the aid of a spy camera.

Ramsbottom Rotary Club is considering buying a mobile video camera in the fight to catch youths in the act.

The move follows a successful trial scheme by police last year.

It is in response to increasingly rowdy behaviour by youths in the town centre during the long summer evenings.

Residents and shop owners say the only answer to the problems of youths is by having a camera monitoring their activities.

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

However, there are not the funds to continue a similar scheme -which was manned voluntary by Ramsbottom Police and specials - leading the Rotary Club to discuss the possibility of obtaining their own camera.

The video camera would be moved around the area, including Holcombe, and in to shop premises which are suffering from the problem of youths causing annoyance.

Said Mr Eric Walmersley ,of the Rotary Club: "The plans to buy our own mobile camera are still in the early stages.

"We have had discussions with the police and are examining the various options open to us."

The cameras would cost in the region of around £2,000.

Officers at Ramsbottom Police Station are supporting the scheme and say they will work closely with the club.

Said PC Stephen Orr, of Ramsbottom Township: "Last year's scheme proved to be very successful and would benefit the local shop owners

"We would work closely with the club to advise them where the camera would be best suited and would help them install the camera where ever necessary.

"The results of last scheme show there is no doubt a camera would assist us in combating the problem of youths causing annoyance."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.