A NORTH Dorset high street which has been the scene of violent disorder will now be covered by state-of-the-art CCTV cameras.

Gillingham has scraped together £25,000 to upgrade its crime-busting system in the High Street to digital - and to extend coverage to the areas of Newbury and New Road where nightspot Legends is situated.

The town council has earmarked £10,000 for the scheme and police Insp Phil Cheverton has secured another £5,000 from North Dorset District Council.

Now Anthea Beck of Tanglewood Commercial Developments has come up with a further £10,000.

Cllr David Milsted who sits on the Crime Prevention Panel said: "This very generous offer will pay dividends in terms of crime reduction and detection and the community owes Mrs Beck a huge vote of thanks.

"Now we can forge ahead and provide a service that many people - especially residents of New Road - have wanted for some time.

"The relief these new cameras will bring will be more than worth all the effort it has taken to bring this project through."

Town clerk Trevor Sturgess said: "The present system has more than proved its worth in the combating of crime within its area of coverage and any enhancement can only be of benefit to the town."

Police say the installation of the first three cameras has prevented disorderly situations arising in the High Street and the detection rate for vandalism and damage has improved.

Last year camera evidence was used to convict a burglar who had carried out a dawn raid on a nearby property. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.