Eagle-eyed CCTV operators have helped police arrest 35 people in Didcot and Wallingford in just three months.

South Oxfordshire District Council said the cameras had been used to help officers deal with more than 72 incidents in Wallingford and 92 in Didcot, between October and December last year.

The footage resulted in 20 arrests in Didcot and 15 in Wallingford, and meant 26 evidence packs had been produced for court cases.

A council spokesman said: “In one case, the operator watched a group of people sitting on benches in the Market Place, in Wallingford, who were kicking around bottles and cans and leaving litter.

“The operator alerted the police, who made the group clear up all the rubbish and warned them about their behaviour.”

One operator reported seeing two men stealing goods from a parked car and alerted police who, with the help of the force helicopter, tracked down two suspects.

The 25 cameras across the two towns are paid for by both the town and district councils.

Sgt Fraser Weller, of Didcot police, said the operators were “first class” and coordinated efficiently with both police and community support officers.