CLAIMS that a town's CCTV system is not working as it should have been scotched.

Councillors in Guisborough fear a recently-launched camera network is failing to curb vandalism.

Town council chairman Coun Barbara Punshon told last week's meeting: "I don't think the cameras are working half the time."

And she suggested a delegation to the CCTV monitoring station at Eston to check on the operation.

But the borough council's lead member for community safety hit back. Coun Dave McLuckie said the cameras were working and put the emphasis on parents to exercise greater control over their children.

Coun Keith Pudney told the meeting: "Guisborough is seeing a resurgence in mindless vandalism. Every salt bin has been kicked over and many road signs have been uprooted."

Coun Pudney said this was not just high spirits but mindless vandalism.

"It is reaching the point where we need more help from police and to put our concerns to them. The situation is getting worse rather than better."

Coun Punshon said: "I am not convinced the CCTV is working at all.

"How about a delegation to check on this at the monitoring station? I reckon half the time it is switched off.

"We need some arrests from the system to put vandals off and we should make sure the cameras are working."

Coun Malcolm Griffiths said CCTV was not the answer - the answer was more police officers on the streets.

It was agreed to pass on the fears to police and arrange a CCTV visit.

But Coun McLuckie said: "There is no merit in this at all. We are seeing an increase in anti-social behaviour across the borough and across the country as a whole.

"Parents are going to have to take a much greater role in knowing what their children are doing. I say this to Guisborough council: these are local youngsters doing the damage.

"I urge parents to be more vigilant and more stern and disciplined in dealing with their children when they do something wrong."

He insisted the CCTV system, launched amid a fanfare of publicity just weeks ago, was working.

But he admitted one camera might have been put in the wrong place. "I have been to the monitoring unit and have looked at one camera on the parish church and seen pictures from it," he said.

"This could be in the wrong place and the camera is being moved to a better vantage point. The cameras are working properly, although there have been glitches as with any electrical equipment."

He said he had no problem with the councillors visiting the monitoring station.

"In fact I will be happy to arrange a visit in the new year," he said