The number of arrests made in Witney using the town's CCTV cameras rose last year to 260.

The network of 26 cameras, under 24-hour observation, are used to direct police to trouble spots in the town centre, often late at night.

The group of local authorities and police which runs the system said the cameras led to 51 more arrests -- up from 209 in the year ending April 2004.

According to police figures, 685 people have been arrested using the cameras since they were installed in 2002.

Ian Hudspeth, member for community safety at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "Operators have been focusing on antisocial behaviour and drunkenness, and this has led to an increase in the number of incidents captured and arrests made by police. If trouble starts on Corn Street for example, the operators can see it and get the police down there to sort it out.

"There have also been quite a few cases of children being spotted wandering on their own because they've been separated from their parents, and a couple of people who've fallen over or collapsed and we've been able to get medical assistance to them."

The success of the cameras in securing convictions is unclear as the partnership which operates them does not track offences as far as the courts.

But it believes the system has deterred criminals and led to more crimes being reported.

Rodney Hartnell, manager of the Woolgate Centre, said: "I don't think there's any doubt they're deterring people from committing crime.

"I think they've put the cameras up very tastefully so you don't walk through the car park thinking Big Brother is watching you.

"But there are signs which let the professionals know they're being watched and are hopefully enough to deter them from coming to Witney."

The cameras were installed with money from the Home Office, and the £40,000 a year running costs are met by the district council, Thames Valley Police, Witney Town Council, the Woolgate Centre and town centre businesses, which display a sticker to show they support the scheme.