A CAMPAIGN to reinstate CCTV in a market town has already been backed by more than 800 people following the death of a man after an alleged assault.

The drive to reintroduce the CCTV in Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been prompted by the recent death of Andrew Jackson, who suffered fatal injuries in an incident near the town's Turf Hotel.

Landlord of the Turf Hotel, Brook Watson, said he and other members of the local Pub Watch group felt CCTV was a necessary deterrent to stop violence, anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the town.

He said: “My staff set up the petition after a Pub Watch meeting last week.

“I’ve also spoken to many local businesses in Richmond and everybody wants it back – and after just three days the petition had hundreds of signatures and that was without going around asking people to sign it.”

Mr Watson said the group hope to gain 1,000 – and are already at 820 – before they plan to go to Richmondshire District Council with some ideas on how they could implement the reinstatement.

He said: “We have a couple of ideas we will put to the council.

“We could ask the council adds about £1 to council tax bills, and local businesses are willing to invest some money into it.

“One problem is that the cameras have been removed so it is not as simple as just turning them back on, but hopefully once that initial cost has been met the upkeep could be sorted out.”

A previous petition to save the CCTV gained 3,000 signatures in 2012, and although it saved the cameras in the short term with businesses pledging money to support it, cameras were finally turned off in 2013 due to a lack of funding.

Richmond Councillor Stuart Parsons said: “It’s brilliant that so many people have supported this.

“If they can come to the council with some proposals I hope the council will look at them – the new Conservative administration said it was in favour of CCTV in its election campaign.

“I look forward to seeing if the Conservatives can deliver it.”

Leader of the Richmondshire Conservative group, Cllr Yvonne Peacock, said: “We will be under real budget restraints but we will take a serious look at the proposals.

“We are open to suggestions and I heard from people on the doorstep who do want it to happen.”

To sign the petition search Change.org for Richmond CCTV.

*A 24-year-old man has been charged with Mr Jackson's murder and is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court in July.