CRIME in Darlington's town centre car parks is at an all-time low, according to new figures.

The latest statistics for this year show that, up to the end of July, there were only 14 incidents in the car parks covered by the town's closed circuit television (CCTV) camera system.

The scheme's cameras provide 24-hour coverage of the town centre car parks, with live pictures relayed to the town hall, where they are monitored by control room staff.

John Williams, Darlington Borough Council leader, said: "Our CCTV system is now expanding beyond the town centre.

"In the last two years we have added the Firthmoor Estate and Bank Top railway station and we are now starting a programme to install security cameras in parks and cemeteries.

"It is a tribute to the vigilance of the CCTV control room staff that, as we take on more areas to watch over, our town centre car parks remain virtually crime free.