Town councillors have withheld funding for Pickering's CCTV system amid claims that despite a string of incidents being spotted on camera, no one has been prosecuted.

But police today insisted the cameras had brought people to justice and proven their worth by reducing street crime.

The assurances came after Pickering Town Council members decided to defer a decision on contributing to the running of Ryedale Cameras in Action until next month.

Running costs for this year are about £24,000, with an expected £3,000 contribution from Pickering Town Council.

When councillors met to debate the cameras, Coun John Shannon said he was concerned because the cameras were just "chronicling incidents."

Coun Natalie Warner was also concerned, and said: "It is all right identifying people and incidents, but if there is no prosecution it doesn't mean much. I would sit and watch people from my window for £1,000."

Ryedale police sergeant Dave Cooper said the cameras were "an extremely useful tool" for crime-fighting, and pointed to a reduction in public order offences in the towns that are wired up.

"There have been a number of occasions when a suspect has confessed when presented with video evidence," he said.