THREE CCTV cameras in Burnham-on-Sea have been upgraded to high definition in an attempt to identify nuisance drivers – at a cost of £7,500.

Sedgemoor District Council has been working with police in recent months to crackdown on anti-social ‘boy racers’ who blight the site.

New CCTV has been installed at the Pier Street car park and the clearer images are hoped will help police identify and apprehend offenders following reports of drivers and travellers abusing the site.

“The upgraded cameras do give higher definition and infra-red images,” a council spokesman said.

“CCTV cameras are there as a deterrent for anti-social behaviour, rather than a security system.

“We have to deal with travellers on a face-to-face basis, so while the cameras give us early indications of any incursions onto our land, they do not really help with speeding up the process for moving them on.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the force has enlisted the help of road policing units to carry out proactive patrols in the area in a bid to catch offenders in the act.

“We have received reports of anti-social behaviour from people in vehicles on the sea front over the last few months but there has been no marked increase recently,” the spokesman said.

“We are working in very close partnership with Sedgemoor District Council to identify any persistent offenders.

“The council will be monitoring CCTV and we will be using radio link so that they can have direct contact with us while we are on duty and reports any offending in live time.

“We will be doing random speed check operations when we have capacity.

“We are also looking at issuing section 59 notices to anyone in a vehicle being used in anti-social way. If that person is caught on more than two occasions with a Section 59 notice, we have the power to seize their vehicle.”

Tatiana Cant, town clerk for Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said the town council is pleased the cameras have been upgraded.

She said: “The behaviour of the individuals who have been tearing around the town is horrendous. They cause serious disruption to local residents as well as creating a safety risk.

“We have received many complaints and this really can’t carry on.

“The higher definition images should make it easier to hold to account the people involved and we hope that they learn to behave in a more sociable way and show respect for the rest of the community.”