A BID for £50,000 for extra CCTV cameras in Risca has been submitted to the Home Office.

The Plaid Cymru-ruled Caerphilly council last week applied for "match funding" for three extra cameras for the town - bringing the total number planned to six.

Risca suffered a setback last year when the Home Office rejected a bid to fund CCTV there - although nearby Newbridge and Blackwood both had their bids accepted.

Afterwards the council resolved to fund CCTV for Risca from council resources, when money became available.

It has already invested £50,000, and says it will release a further £200,000 as soon as possible.

Darren Jones, cabinet member for environmental services, called on the Home Office to "redeem themselves in Risca" by matching the council's £50,000 investment.

"Our bid for funding is an ambitious attempt to continue our high-profile campaign to extend provision of CCTV in the Caerphilly county borough communities," he said. He added his group had "refused to abandon Risca" and now called for match funding to continue the "vitally important scheme".

Risca councillor Elwyn Styles said the town's case for CCTV cameras was overwhelming.

"This is the second time we have approached the Home Office, and they now have a chance to help us in the fight against crime."

The town centres of Blackwood and Newbridge have each received eight cameras, after being approved for a Home Office grant in July 2001.

The two schemes are together worth more than £250,000.

Footage from the cameras is monitored round the clock by staff from a monitoring station, with a direct link to Gwent Police headquarters in Croesyceiliog.

Newbridge councillor Lyn Ackerman welcomed the cameras at the time, saying: "This is a positive move for the town and I think people will feel a lot safer."