THE final touches are being put to an extensive security camera system at one of the region's biggest chemical complexes.

The 25-camera CCTV system is being installed at BASF's plant at Seal Sands, Teesside, by security specialists Cam-Tec Systems Limited as part of an overall contract worth in excess of £250,000.

Cam-Tec, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was selected by BASF to carry out this work on the basis of quality, price and service.

It has already completed the installation earlier this year of a similar perimeter security camera system, as well as a door access control system, at BASF's production facility in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Dr Ian Mains, spokesman for BASF, said: "Security is of paramount importance in the petrochemical industry and this latest work being carried out in partnership with Cam-Tec is part of an ongoing process to ensure the integrity of our manufacturing operations."

Cam-Tec supplies and maintains security systems for a number of the UK's leading power and petrochemical companies, including Powergen, Huntsman Tioxide, on Humberside, and BASF on Teesside. It also installed and maintains a CCTV system at the Vopak Seal Sands chemical storage facility, immediately adjacent to BASF.

Director Richard Hovington said: "BASF are the world's leading chemical company and being awarded these security contracts is very prestigious. While installed primarily as a security measure, the camera system also offers BASF additional benefits, for example the ability to monitor the safety and well-being of employees at night and in less populated areas of the plant."