CCTV cameras are set to be extended to more villages and venues following their success in capturing criminals in High Wycombe.

A report in Bucks Free Press last week, Midweek's sister paper, told how CCTV had been instrumental in jailing six men involved in a pub brawl outside the Antelope in High Wycombe and now Wycombe District Council wants to increase its coverage.

The council has supported further bids for more cameras and has agreed to meet installation costs in Castlefield, Hazlemere and Wycombe Sports Centre, which will be subject to Home Office approval.

Since CCTV was installed in the town in 1996, the network has expanded to Marlow, Castlefield Community Centre and Saunderton Hotel, and there are now 150 cameras being monitored 24 hours a day.

The system is used by Thames Valley Police who made 190 requests for tapes to be used as evidence last year and the control room which carries out 150 police observations per month.

CCTV has also helped people in distress. Last year two shoppers were rescued by the fire brigade following a tip-off from CCTV operators who had seen them trapped in a lift.