NINE extra closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras are to be installed in Darlington town centre to help fight crime in the town.

They will be situated near Darlington College of Technology and High Northgate.

Darlington Borough Council has received Home Office funding of £203,000 for the additional cameras.

Three of them will target the area from Northgate House along North Road as far as Corporation Road.

The remaining six will cover streets in the college area, including Stanhope Road, Duke Street, Abbey Road, Vane Terrace and Stanhope Park.

The Home Office funding will bring the total investment in CCTV in Darlington town centre to £1.5m.

There are now 91 cameras around the town centre, all linked to the Town Hall control room. The cameras, which can zoom, pan and tilt, relay live, colour pictures to the control room, where they are monitored by staff 24 hours a day.

Anything suspicious can be reported to the police or relevant authority by control room staff.

The cameras are an effective deterrent against crime and anti-social behaviour.

Since they were introduced in 1994 they have assisted in more than 2,500 arrests, and crime in the town centre car parks has been almost eliminated.

The 11 cameras in Firthmoor have led to a 46 per cent drop in reported crime on the estate.

John Williams, leader of Darlington council, said: "The cameras will make a significant impact on the fight against crime in these areas.

"CCTV has proved to be an excellent investment in our town, helping to catch criminals and deterring others. Further investment will make Darlington's streets safer still."

The cameras are part of a £3.5m investment for the North-East to improve CCTV coverage. As well as the Darlington scheme, there will be £91,000 for four cameras in the West Cornforth area of Sedgefield district and £30,425 for an extension of the CCTV scheme in Crook. Other areas in the region to benefit are the centres of Newcastle, Gateshead and Loftus.

Home Office Minister John Denham said: "CCTV has repeatedly proved its effectiveness in the fight against crime and the fear of crime."