A security system developed by tuned-in television repair men James Spencer and Andrew Haworth has had its first big success.

Julie Mett, owner of the Riverside Hotel, in York, with the "black box" closed-circuit TV security system which has been developed by TV specialists James Spencer, left, and Andrew Haworth to improve security at the hotel

James and Andrew, of Clifton Green TV Centre, York, have spent a year and a half adapting closed-circuit TV technology to create a system which, they claim, burglars cannot detect or tamper with.

Mr Spencer got the idea, which has now been commended by York police, while he was watching a documentary about black box flight recorders.

In order to keep the video and tape safe from burglars he realised they could be kept in a secure box hidden in some other part of the house, such as an attic.

His innovation uses a tiny camera linked to the recorder by remote control which is triggered only when movement is picked up by an infrared sensor.

This saves time because it is no longer necessary to sift through hours of wasted tape.

The system has already had its first success at the Riverside Walk Hotel where a burglar was caught on film and has subsequently been arrested and charged.

And York police have praised the innovation saying it has saved them valuable time.

Mr Spencer said: "I got the idea one day while I was watching a programme about black box recorders in aeroplanes and decided to develop it when my girlfriend's house got burgled.

"The sensor detects movement and triggers the recorder which then stops 30 seconds after any movement stops which means no more sifting through hours of tape to find a specific occurrence."

The system is versatile and can also be used for viewing callers at the door or keeping an eye on the children.

PC Trevor Dove, of York police, who viewed the tape from the Riverside Walk Hotel, said: "It is the first time I've come across a system like this which only records movement. In this case the premises had been unoccupied for some two hours and the next recorded person on the tape after the owner left was the individual. It saved us a laborious process and I was quite impressed with it."

Mr Spencer said: "Hopefully it will make people feel more secure and I'd love to get some sponsorship to manufacture it but I don't really know what's going to happen in the future."

The system can be fitted for around £350. Inquiries should be made at the shop.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.