TRADERS in Bradford on Avon have stepped up their fight against town centre crime.

Members of the town's Chamber of Commerce have been encouraged to join Shopwatch, a scheme set up by former west Wiltshire policeman Brian Hinton.

Mr Hinton, who retired from the Wiltshire force earlier this year, set up Shopwatch after identifying the need for a system to pass information between shops and to the police.

Caroline Philpott, vice-president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said traders in the town had recently suffered from a spate of charity box and handbag thefts.

Mrs Philpott said: "We go through phases where nothing much happens, and everyone gets a bit complacent, and then something happens and we are all on red alert. This is something positive we can do for Bradford on Avon."

She said traders had been keen to do something to combat crime for some time and the chamber of commerce often sends out advice to its members.

"There has also been a spate of people travelling into the towns on the train and targeting particular types of shops," said Mrs Philpott.

"This is where something like Shopwatch which gets the towns working together will hopefully work. It gives people an early warning."