A SOCIAL enterprise has been formed to operate CCTV in the city after Wiltshire Council's decision to scrap funding for the service.

Salisbury Citywatch will be funded by the Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID), Salisbury City Council and the Police Crime Commissioner. The cameras will be operated by a mixture of volunteers and police officers.

The community interest company, which is a type of non-profit organisation, will be handed ownership of the £500,000 new system which Wiltshire Council will install next year.

Amanda Newbery, chairman of the BID, said: “It is absolutely critical that Salisbury has a fine and developed manned CCTV system.

"We fully understand that Wiltshire Council has had to make some very difficult decision relating to their revenue funding, and that this has resulted in budget cuts but we felt it vital that a volunteer service should be properly maintained, managed and organised.

"We are confident about being able to develop Salisbury Citywatch as a new community interest company for the city. It enables us to recruit and train a high calibre of volunteers who are all vetted and badged to be able to help safeguard our city."

Any new volunteers will go through a four-day training course before they are allowed to operate the city's camera system.

Anybody who wishes to volunteer for the service should contact Steve Godwin at the BID on 01722 658000, or by emailing info@salisburybid.co.uk. The next course starts on September 21.