RESIDENTS across the Royal Borough may feel safer in their community after the council announced they have spent £1.5 million on upgrading its CCTV cameras.

The multi-million pound scheme replaces existing CCTV cameras across Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead to state-of-the-art wireless camera systems, ensuring better coverage across the borough.

In total 150 cameras have been added, upgraded or relocated.

Councillor David Cannon, cabinet member for Public Protection, said: "I am delighted that we have upgraded these cameras to ensure our residents have peace and mind when they are out in our towns.

"We can’t cover every area of the borough but have placed cameras in specific locations like the town centres and some car parks to ensure the community feel safe."

The plans also involves a refurbished monitoring centre which will give the council's control room staff, as well as Thames Valley Police improved facilities to monitor and review footage.

Cllr Cannon added: “The images that we are now able to use to assist Thames Valley Police when dealing with crimes are incredible and I hope that this new system will help to improve community safety as well as help identify perpetrators and bring them to justice on occasions when an incident does occur.”

The Royal Borough worked with computerised and digital security systems (CDS) to carry out the upgrade which has taken less than a year to complete.

Andy Williams, managing director of CDS, said: "We are delighted that we were able to work on the scheme to upgrade the cameras and the control room.

"The council now has a state of the art CCTV system in place which will help the control room staff work with the police and other authorities to ensure the borough is kept as safe as it can be."