ANOTHER eight CCTV cameras have been installed on some of the region's most notorious housing estates, in a £400,000 attempt to reduce crime.

Sunderland's Pennywell estate used to be the car crime capital of Europe, with vehicle theft and burglary rates three times the national average.

Crime figures have fallen dramatically over the past four years and the cameras are the latest in a series of initiatives designed to reduce them even further.

Eight of the CCTV surveillance cameras have been put in place at potential troublespots on the Pennywell, Ford and South Hylton estates.

The scheme was funded through the third round of the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, which has paid for a number of improvements throughout the area since 1997.

Karon Purvis, assistant co-ordinator for the regeneration programme, said: "A resident survey conducted two years ago showed 96 per cent of residents were in favour of CCTV.

"This is something they have long campaigned for and we have responded to their concerns.

"Not only will the cameras protect individuals, but they have also been strategically placed to protect key sites where investment has been made.

"The cameras are so sophisticated they can read a vehicle registration at 150 metres."

The cameras will cover key sites across all three estates, including the King George V Park and the Pennywell Business Centre.

They are linked to a control room at the Civic Centre and will be accessible to officers at Farringdon Police Station.

Police will be able to move the equipment to focus on areas experiencing problems with crime and disorder.

Chief Inspector Michael Hartnack said: "Not only will the cameras enable us to react quickly to crime, but they will also provide important evidence in cases of prosecution.

"Working in partnership with the area's regeneration programme, we have already managed to cut crime in the area to well below the force average.

"We think the cameras will only add to that success and cut crime and the fear of crime further."

The cameras were switched on yesterday and residents were invited to the Civic Centre to see how the system works.