A VILLAGE blighted by vandalism and crime is having its outdated closed circuit security cameras replaced with a new £40,000 system.

A project to improve the CCTV system in Skelton was approved after various grants were secured.

Work on upgrading the system began on Monday and is expected to take about 60 days.

Coun Dave McLuckie told a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council area environment committee that the cameras in operation were of the lowest quality in the borough.

He said: "Skelton has suffered a serious blight of extreme vandalism in recent months and the system in place is not one that can be monitored to a high standard.

"But with the excellent news of more funding, we will soon have in place a high quality system from which images can be used as evidence in court.

"It will allow controllers to follow perpetrators of crime and hopefully bring them to justice."

He said windows had been smashed in the village, cash machines damaged and vehicles attacked.

The cost of the security upgrade was put at £40,000. The Community Safety Partnership is to contribute £15,000 and a further £15,000 grant was announced by the area environment committee during the meeting. The borough council will provide the remaining £10,000.

Coun Brian Briggs said businesses in the area were looking to join forces and contribute annually to the running costs of the new system.

He said: "The six cameras will be modernised and, to help with running costs, the businesses in Skelton are keen to donate about £100 a year.

"They know the new security camera system can safeguard their companies and it will be a vital asset for everyone."