CCTV cameras in Ledbury could be actively monitored 24 hours a day from a central control room in Hereford by early autumn.

The fibre-optic link will cost more than £50,000 but will mean that problems caught on camera can be acted upon, instead of a recording simply being available as evidence.

Debbie Stringer, Herefordshire Council's CCTV officer, said the money could come from the Market Towns Initiative, West Mercia Constabulary, Hereford-shire Council and Ledbury Town Council.

She said: "By the end of Sept-ember, I hope Ledbury will be connected up to the monitors."

Mrs Stringer wrote to Ledbury Town Council following a letter from clerk June McQuaid asking for information concerning progress on the link-up.

At the meeting of Ledbury Town Council's finance and general purposes committee in the Market House on Thursday, members agreed on principle to a one off payment of £5,510, towards the initial connection costs.

Mrs Stringer described the finance committee's support as "good news".

The decision still needs to be ratified by Ledbury's full council on February 19, and members are keen to clarify that the sum they have agreed to in principle will be a one off and not an annual payment towards running costs.

Ledbury town councillors went on a fact-finding visit to the control centre on November 25, where monitoring is also provided for other market towns, like Ross and Leominster.

Town mayor Keith Francis has been a driving force in the plan to get Ledbury linked-up and he led the six-strong delegation.