A PUB boss is to splash out £20,000 on cameras to help catch vandals in Summerseat.

Nick Hogan, who runs the Waterside Inn, has brought forward plans to install a state-of-the-art CCTV system after residents raised concerns about drunken yobs rampaging through the village, particularly at weekends.

Now, in an effort to make Summerseat a no-go area for the hooligans, the CCTV system will cover the pub and the area around the railway arches and the Spinnings apartments, the scene of some problems.

Mr Hogan said: "It has always been our intention to have CCTV but the concerns about vandalism recently expressed by residents has prompted us to install it sooner. The system we are going to use is accessible through the Internet so the police will have free access to it and monitor the actions of yobs gathering in the village.

"It will cost in the region of £20,000 but that is a small price to pay, not only for the protection of our staff and customers but also for the residents who live in the village."

Homeowners in Waterside Road, Railway Street and Robin Road claim they are suffering the brunt of the wrecking sprees on weekend nights by drunken, foul-mouthed youths. Public and private property is regularly being damaged.

A letter signed by 30 residents was recently sent to police protesting about the situation.

Local police officers are to meet with the Waterside bosses to assess the CCTV project.