FOUR Monmouthshire town centres are to get CCTV cameras next month - thanks to a £440,000 National Assembly grant and £90,000 from the local council.

The CCTV system, which is set to 'go live' in February, will be put in place in Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth.

Councillor Pamela Birchall, from Chepstow, said: "By taking advantage of the National Assembly for Wales grant award of £440,000 and through ongoing financial support of our four town councils, Monmouthshire county council can help to reduce the fear of crime in the county."

She said that CCTV would be a tool in working to reduce crime and added: "Monmouthshire county council looks forward to CCTV contributing to a safer environment."

The system will see the use of 24 cameras across the four towns to monitor and protect town centres, with cameras positioned outside shops, pubs, clubs and car parks.

Scott Young, Monmouthshire regeneration officer, said: "Provided that they are using cutting edge technology everything looks rosy."

He said that the county council had put up £90,000 and the four town councils had all agreed to bear the maintenance costs for the cameras.

Mr Young said: "CCTV is not a quick fix, it has to work with other things like street lighting."

Sergeant Andy Clement from Abergavenny police station, said: "CCTV is long, long overdue.

"It will help us detect crime and help us prevent crime. I think it should be in every town centre in the country and maybe more cameras will be needed in the future."

Ian Shackleton, owner of Shackleton's in Abergavenny and president of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade, said: "The cameras will be a very welcome addition to the town."

He said that the cameras would not only limit vandalism but make the town a better place to visit during the day and at night.

He said: "I think that it is fantastic that we are getting such a good service in our towns."

Judith Gribble, landlady of the Cross Inn, Newport Road, Caldicot, said: "A camera will be placed outside the pub and I think that it is an excellent idea.

"We will feel more comfortable and it will stop youths hanging around until late at night."

The cameras will be monitored from the control room in Caerphilly, which was modified in April last year to support Monmouthshire's needs.