CASH-TROUBLED CCTV networks were thrown a lifeline after councillors backed down over threats to turn them off.

Town councillors in Westhoughton and Horwich vowed to pull the plug on the cameras unless business owners in the town centres made a contribution towards the cost of running of the scheme.

But the two town councils each met last night and decided on a stay of execution. Councillors now plan to hold talks with police over a possible financial contribution.

Both councils set a deadline of September 9 for at least half of the traders of each town to come forward with money -- £100 per year in Westhoughton and £10 per month in Horwich.

Westhoughton town councillor Cllr David Wilkinson said that so far only a dozen traders in Westhoughton had firmly agreed to pay money and that at least 60 more were needed to keep the scheme afloat.

"There has been a bit of movement," he said. "But we're still a long way off the position where we can financially support the scheme.

"If we don't get any joy with the police and the traders don't come on board, then we will turn it off."

The Westhoughton CCTV system costs £12,000 a year to run and the Horwich one £16,000.

Westhoughton's system has been besieged with problems since it was first mooted in 1997.

The cameras were switched on nearly three years late in 2001 and traders say they have been shown no evidence that they are effective in catching criminals.

Last month Cllr Wilkinson warned "Holy hell" would break out in the town centre if they were switched off.

In Horwich the same pattern has emerged, with only a handful of traders contributing towards the £16,000 a year running cost of the cameras.

Councillors were disappointed that no traders attended last night's meeting, despite several warnings that a decision was to be made.

They were also concerned at the lack of police presence.

Leader Cllr John Cronnolley said: "We had expected the police to attend and are very disappointed that they didn't, and without an explanation.

"We need to discuss this with them to see whether they will be able to help us resolve the situation.

"We have to make a decision one way or the other at next month's meeting because of the budget implications for the next financial year."