CAMPAIGNERS have pledged to lodge a fresh bid for security cameras in Dorchester when government cash is up for grabs.

Crime prevention officer Dave Wright and Coun Trevor Jones vowed to hold new talks to draw up a top quality bid when the green light is given.

The move comes in the wake of a Dorset Echo poll when 648 readers voted in favour of a closed circuit television (CCTV) network for Dorchester.

Coun Trevor Jones said: "Dorchester will definitely be bidding for a CCTV system to cover some parts of the town centre.

"But the important part is that it has to be thoroughly researched and properly prepared.

"A previous bid was submitted but it was turned down.

"Next time we need to make sure that we have a top quality bid."

Shopkeepers and supporters have launched renewed calls for the cameras after a spate of ram raids and an increase in violent crime in the town centre.

Their pleas were given strength by a drop in crime in Weymouth town centre after the installation of its CCTV system.

Coun Jones claimed Dorchester Town Council was behind a new bid as it had a duty to apply for whatever cash was available.

He said: "We will put a bid when the government says money is available. We will need to have a meeting at the right time with the Chamber of Commerce, police, as well as the town, district and county councils.

"There's no point starting too early, but a certain amount of preparatory work can be done."

He added: "We need to be working together as that is what the government will be looking for.

"They will be looking at local people to accept ownership and share responsibility for the scheme."

PC Wright said he had no indication when the government might give the signal for bids to be lodged for new schemes.

He added: "We will be 100 per cent going for it with an updated version of our bid when we know the money is available."