BUSINESSES in Adlington are being asked to help fund a CCTV system for the village.

The move comes after a town council meeting in which councillors discussed possible finance options that could be used to pay for a security system in the village, which currently has no such protection.

The cost of buying and running two cameras for a year is estimated at £44,000. They intend to apply to Chorley Council for help, but are looking for additional financial support from those who will benefit.

A letter outlining the council's plans and asking for voluntary contributions will be distributed to all local shops and businesses in the coming weeks.

Town councillor Mick Davies said: "We hope to secure funding to install two cameras -- one in higher Adlington and one in the lower area -- which would both be linked to Chorley police.

"If this went ahead it would do local businesses' security a lot of good, so we hope those that can afford to will be interested in helping. It is expensive and the town council needs all the help it can get."

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, whose constituency covers Adlington, has also been pressing the Government for extra investment in CCTV for rural areas and is exploring other avenues including the Regional Development Agency.

He highlighted a recent armed robbery at the Royal Bank of Scotland, in which thousands of pounds was stolen, to illustrate why the surveillance equipment could help tackle crimes in small communities.