HOSPITAL workers have been given a new weapon in the fight against troublemakers on their ward.

Staff at Dorset County Hospital's busy A&E department were on hand to receive their new walkie-talkie radio link, which will alert police at the first sign of trouble in the unit.

And the radio will also give them a direct link to CCTV camera operators who watch more than 30 cameras in and around the site of potential trouble spots.

Insp Les Fry, area commander for Dorset Police, said: "It means staff can alert the police instantly if anything starts to happen - they don't have to ring 999. They will also link into the CCTV control room so an operator can make sure a camera is directed on the scene.

"Hospital staff have an extremely important job to do and need to be able to get on and do it. Problems there are not frequent but they occur often enough for it to be a concern."

Tess Drabble, directorate manager for emergency services, welcomed the donation of the radios.

"We have potential problems and this link will enable us to alert police straight away.

"It will make staff feel safer and if the public know we have this, it may act as a deterrent."