SURVEILLANCE is set to increase in Wareham after the council gave initial backing to more CCTV cameras.

Existing cameras around the town centre have proved popular with police and residents, and they are now being proposed for the main quay and Abbots quay, with signals beamed directly to Wareham police station.

Wareham mayor Les Burns said: "During the long summer evenings, there were a number of complaints from residents about misbehaviour around the quay.

"Rowing boats were damaged on two occasions and there was general hooliganism and unruly behaviour, so we've decided to extend the coverage."

The plans are still at an early stage. The council must now draw up costs and find funding, before voting on their implementation.

Mr Burns said: "There are many sources of grant funding to put them up, but maintenance has to fall on the town council, so we will look at the costings on that.

There are also cameras about to appear at Worgret roundabout and the train station flyover, giving coverage over Sandford Lane industrial estate.

Community support officer Trevor Dunesby welcomed the move.

"It is amazing the information that we are picking up," he said. "We are only talking about a small minority who cause 99.99 per cent of the local problems. When we investigate, it is normally down to the same hardcore of about a dozen youngsters."