There were 11 reported incidents of car thefts or thefts from vehicles last year in the car parks that are covered by the council's CCTV system.

The surveillance system was first installed in 1994 at a cost of �750,000 when 374 incidents were recorded.

CCTV provides 24-hour coverage of car parks with live pictures relayed to the Town Hall and control room staff.

Total investment in the CCTV scheme to date is �1.5m with more than 100 cameras operating in Darlington.

Council leader John Williams said: "I think we can say that our CCTV system has now all but eliminated car park crime in the town centre.

"Safe car parks are a real boost for any town centre because when people drive into town to work or to shop they need to know their car is safe."