AN MP has blamed the lack of closed circuit television cameras for the rise in vandalism in the centre of a Suffolk market town.John Gummer, Tory MP for Suffolk Coastal, said cameras would be a major disincentive to crime in Woodbridge but their introduction had been blocked because of a lack of funding from the county council.

AN MP has blamed the lack of closed circuit television cameras for the rise in vandalism in the centre of a Suffolk market town.

John Gummer, Tory MP for Suffolk Coastal, said cameras would be a major disincentive to crime in Woodbridge but their introduction had been blocked because of a lack of funding from the county council.

"The police do all they can but their job would be helped immensely if they were able to monitor what goes on in the town centre via CCTV," said Mr Gummer.

He was speaking after traders in The Thoroughfare in Woodbridge had complained about the anti-social behaviour which coincided with warm weather and long light evenings. They have previously handed in petitions and called for the crime-busting cameras to be installed.

Barretts furniture store has had several instances of smashed glasses and bottles all over the back door, along with vomit, urine and human faeces. Seven windows have been smashed at nearby St John's Church.

Mr Gummer said: "The county council tax and the police authority precept have risen dramatically this year, and for the money they are paying, the people of Woodbridge deserve protection from mindless vandalism.

"The town and other smallish communities are fed up with the large urban centres exporting their crime.

"There needs to be a concerted effort to catch whoever is responsible - if New York can be rid of its record as the gun capital of the world by tough policing and support measures, then surely it is not beyond the wit of Suffolk to solve the vandalism of Woodbridge."

Inps Trevor Brundle, of Woodbridge police, said vandalism was a problem throughout the Woodbridge area with about the same number of incidents as last year. "We are aware that the area at the rear of the shops in the Thoroughfare is where youngsters congregate and we do our best to have a police presence there at the appropriate times."