Businesses in a North Yorkshire town are leading a campaign to have CCTV cameras installed to combat escalating teenage crime levels.

Over 1,000 shop owners and residents have signed a petition calling for the equipment to be used on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate.

Many business owners admit they are tired of constant intimidation from gangs of youths and damage to their property.

To help reduce crime, they have joined together to set up their own chamber of trade.

"Great potential"

Shawn Winter, secretary of the Knaresborough Road Chamber of Trade, believes cameras are essential for the area.

"The potential for CCTV is great," he said.

"We have a petition signed by thousands of people to push towards it and hopefully if we are lucky the funding will be there for it."

The petition is expected to be presented to the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis within the next few weeks.