A PLAN to hire Bromyard's very own police officer has been abandoned in favour of a 24-hour CCTV camera.

Bromyard and Winslow Town Council had looked at the possibility of hiring a parish officer to tackle a rise in anti-social behaviour.

But it was told last month by senior police officers that wages could come to £18,000 a year and that night shifts were unlikely to be supported.

The council voted on Monday to reject the idea and instead set up a working party to look into wireless CCTV.

Councillors were impressed by a demonstration on Monday by Rochdale-based security camera firm WCCTV which showed off technology allowing eight days of complete 24-hour recording.

They were told the system would cost £7,000 for one camera with annual running costs totalling up to £1,500.

"Hiring our own parish officer would be far too expensive given the amount of money we deal with," said Coun Jonathan Lester.

"Considering most of us want an officer between ten at night and two in the morning, although we've not fully investigated the idea, I think money would better spent on CCTV."

Coun Nick Cronin added: "To me the parish officer is a post with no teeth whatsoever. It's an absolute waste of money not fulfilling any of the needs we have got."