WESTHOUGHTON'S CCTV cameras are helping keep crime down in the town, police say.

Insp Chris Evans cited a list of crimes which have recently been picked up by the cameras at a meeting of Westhoughton Town Council.

The CCTV, which is funded by the town council, came under fire when it was revealed four of the seven in Market Street were not working at the time of an armed robbery at the Co-op store on January 4.

But Inspector Evans, from Bolton South neighbourhood policing team, added that crime in the town was currently “relatively low” and thanked Westhoughton Town Council for supporting them.

He said: “All local bodies are responsible for detecting crime. Everyone has to play their role in preventing crime and disorder.”

Inspector Evans referred to 12 offences in Westhoughton which have been recently picked up by the cameras, including incidents of drug possession, domestic violence, assault and burglary.

He added: “We have been recording very low figures. Occasionally there is a bit of a spiral, such as spates of burglaries or car thefts when certain individuals are released from custody.

“People also come from other areas and commit crime in Westhoughton as the town is so close to motorways.”

Cllr David Chadwick, council leader, said: “We are privileged to have such a consistent team of police officers here in Westhoughton.”

It emerged after the January 4 Co-op raid that some of the errors had gone unfixed for nearly a month, as high winds prevented engineers using cherry pickers.

Cllr Phil Ashcroft, Conservative member for White Horse, has questioned whether the cameras provided value for money for taxpayers.

The town council has set a budget of £14,000 for CCTV coverage for 2014/15, down from £20,000 for the previous 12 months.