TOWN hall bosses are to be put in the picture about bad behaviour in a prestige park.

A park ranger's van covering Middlesbrough's 70-acre Albert Park has been equipped with CCTV cameras to detect crime and deter yobs.

Batteries of static cameras already scan most of the park where a £1m restoration programme is nearing completion.

The mobile cameras will cover blind spots, giving park users added re-assurance, a safeguard for wardens homing in on any anti-social behaviour while protecting the council's investment in the park.

Stuart Johnston, Albert Park Manager, said, "We've spent the last three years restoring Albert Park so that it can be enjoyed by everyone.

"A lot of people in Middlesbrough have rediscovered it as somewhere to spend their leisure time in pleasant surroundings away from bricks and mortar.

"It's a place for people come to relax and the last thing they need is to have their visit spoiled by anti-social behaviour.

"Not everyone has the standards of behaviour. Especially when drink is involved, inhibitions disappear.''

He added: "While there has been a marked drop in anti-social behaviour in the park since it was upgraded, the use of the mobile CCTV will help identify and prevent a small minority from spoiling things for other people.''

Mr Johnston said: "We are not sneaking around the bushes with a camera.''

Last year someone smashed a window in the van, with the ranger sitting inside, after taking exception to being asked to leave the park as it was being locked up for the night.

Mr Johnston said: "No-one actually got hurt, but the incident was judged serious enough to make us want to be pro-active and so something to safeguard our staff.

"The mobile CCTV will allow us to improve security for visitors in areas not covered by our existing cameras.''

The CCTV cameras will also be used to identify littering, graffiti, vandalism and people failing to clear up after their dogs in the park.

Council officers have been gathering evidence of alcohol related anti-social behaviour in the park for several years and discussions are taking place, aimed at making the park an Alcohol Free Zone later this year.