UNIFORMED wardens in a North-East town are being issued with miniature cameras that will attach to their hats and allow them to record offenders.

The device is aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour, including harassment, begging, noise, youths causing annoyance and littering in Darlington.

From a distance, the hats look normal, but a closer inspection reveals the cameras.

Images recorded could be shown in court as evidence, but will also be used to confront offenders immediately.

Warden Andrew Redhead, from Darlington Community Safety Partnership, said: "The camera attaches to the side of the hat and then there is a little video recorder that fits into your belt.

"It can record up to 40 hours of good quality footage."

The partnership introduced the cameras after hearing about Cleveland Police's success in tackling anti-social behaviour with larger helmet cameras.

Councillor Eleanor Lister, of Darlington Borough Council, said: "The new cameras will enable uniformed wardens to record incidences of anti-social behaviour to be used as potential evidence, but also to demonstrate on the spot to people how their actions are affecting our society."

The cameras were made by Visual Security Systems and Darkmass Technologies, in Middlesbrough.