SECURITY for Monmouth's high street has been furthered with a seventh CCTV camera, installed yesterday (25th March).

The camera, installed above the Joules store at the top of the high street, covers a blind area just out of reach from its neighbouring camera, which overlooks the Shirtbox store.

Monmouthshire County Council's (MCC) CCTV co-ordinator Andy Mason said the cameras location was particularly pertinent.

"It will link up with the others to create a better coverage for the street, furthering the efficiency of the Businesses Against Crime Partnership and the stores in the high street who have Storenet," he said.

"There have been a couple of incidents and shoplifting offences for Joules so the camera will act for crime prevention.

"Its installation is obviously not just for the store but for this area in terms of traffic management. It is a very busy little square, with loading and turning as well as pedestrian safety and crime prevention."

Joules staff member Natalie Hesketh-Brown said: "I think it'll be great.

"With theft as rife as it is, it's nice for the private stores to be protected as well; this end of town needs it."

Andy Mason added: "Moving away from the fixed BT lines that the CCTV cameras used to be linked with has given us greater flexibility.

"If the need is there we can look to further the field (off CCTV security)."