A TROWBRIDGE security firm is stepping in after discovering Wiltshire police no longer keeps records of who runs business properties.

ShopWatch Security System Ltd is launching an interactive key-holder record service, which staff hope will prove vital to Wiltshire businesses.

The service is designed to provide businesses with instant text messages detailing incidents such as burglary, fire and flooding, which under the present system can take days to filter through.

Difficulties in updating card-based key-holder records have prompted police to scrap their scheme, leaving them without accurate records for businesses. This means business owners might not learn of a burglary until they next open up, as officers are also unable to answer the majority of alarms set off.

ShopWatch will make its key-holder records available to the emergency services in a bid to avoid delays and is looking for firms to sign up to the scheme. For an annual subscription of £70.50 businesses can also get free access to ShopWatch's early warning system, which provides information on crime and other incidents occurring nearby.

Managing director Brian Hinton said: "If you get a big fire at a business in Trowbridge, the police would not necessarily know who the key-holder is. The business might not learn about the fire until later, but with our system we can select a group and flash an instant message to their mobile phones. When they sleep at night they will Know their premises are being looked after.

"Initially this system is going to be in town centres and on industrial estates. But we will then branch out into residential areas as well."

The Castle Street firm has offered to provide the new service in partnership with the police, but bosses were told it would have to go out to tender.

Homeowners will be charged a reduced fee for the service, which ShopWatch hopes will prove particularly useful during times such as holidays when they are away for extended periods.

For more information contact the Shopwatch office on (01225) 777734.