A PERMANENT CCTV camera has been installed on a footpath where a Hereford father was murdered.

South Wye residents have been calling for the technology to be installed along the Great Western Way for some time and a number of petitions following the death of Christian Bagley garnered several thousand signatures.

The father-of-one died on June 21 after being stabbed on the pathway under the Hunderton Bridge. His mother, Janette Bagley was one of those calling for cameras to be put in place.

And those calls have been answered, with Herefordshire Council confirming that a camera has now been installed on the route.

It will allow operatives to view the route up towards Belmont where there are paths heading towards Riverside School and then north along the footpath until it bends to go towards Barton Road Bridge.

Operatives can also see towards Charles Witts Avenue and along the towpath on both sides of river.

The CCTV is being paid for from section 106 money obtained via the planning process.

Monitoring will be paid for partly through a donation from Hereford City Council and a Police and Crime Commissioner grant.

Laura Hall, a Hereford City Councillor for the Hinton and Hunderton ward, has welcomed the news.

She said: "Many residents from across the city who regularly use this route are very happy with the new CCTV installation on the Great Western Way which is now finally in operation.

"It's an important step forward with regards to making people feel safe and reassured in an urban area which is heavily used and Hereford City Council are committed to improving the lives of the people of Hereford."

Glenda Vaughan-Powell, who led a campaign for the cameras for around five years as a Belmont councillor, added: "I am very happy that the camera is now in position and working after five years' hard work on behalf of the people of Hunderton and everyone else that uses the Great Western Way."

Herefordshire Council added that there are ongoing discussions regarding the provision of other cameras. It is continuing to review CCTV coverage in this area.