TWO closed-circuit television cameras are to be installed in Spennymoor town centre to improve public safety and crime detection.

The surveillance cameras will be placed on 10m columns near Bishops Close Health Centre and at the junction of Armoury Street and King Street.

Planning permission for the cameras, part of a £3.5m revamp of the town centre, was granted by Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee on Friday.

Dr Jacqueline Spence, of King Street, said she and her parents, who live in the same street, were concerned that the cameras would invade their privacy.

Head of planning services Charlie Walton said one camera had be repositioned and buffers would be installed to block the view of residential areas.

Dennis Hall, the council's solicitor, said all monitoring officers based at Chilton depot are trained and there are strict rules governing the use of cameras to protect people's privacy.