An official launch for Mid Beds' new CCTV system takes place on Tuesday.

Following problems with the district's previous contractors, Farsight in Peterborough, Mid Beds District Council has joined the North Herts Partnership in Stevenage.

They will monitor eight cameras in Biggleswade, seven in Sandy and one in Shefford.

The switch will also see the start of a Retail Radio Scheme in Sandy and Biggleswade allowing local businesses to communicate with each other and the CCTV control room.

The total cost of the new system has cost £126,000 with contributions coming from Mid Beds District Council, Sandy Town Council and Shefford Town Council.

The partnership between the councils aims to bring improvements in safety and crime prevention to these towns through better CCTV coverage.

The radio scheme will be administered by the Chamber of Trade in each town, and initially there will be a total of 18 retail members in the two towns.

The Mid Beds Crime and Disorder Partnership contributed £10,000 through the Safer Communities Fund towards it.

See Friday's Biggleswade Chronicle (November 30) for a report of the launch.