A Hampshire council has defended its decision to spend £10,000 installing CCTV in a crime-free town.

Stockbridge Parish Council in Hampshire has taken the step of buying surveillance equipment in a bid to deter crime and catch criminals.

But Ian Readhead, Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, questioned whether the expansion of CCTV cameras was justified in areas where there were relatively low crime levels.

He said: ''I'm really concerned about what happens to the product of these cameras, and what comes next.

''If it's in our villages, are we really moving towards an Orwellian situation where cameras are at every street corner?

''And I really don't think that's the kind of country that I want to live in.'' David Baseley, the former chairman of Stockbridge Parish Council who served in the post for nine years until last week, said he was amazed by the comments of Mr Readhead.

He added that police and traders had each contributed £4,000 to the cost of installing the three surveillance cameras in the town.

Mr Baseley speaking about the senior officer's comments, said: ''If you're not doing wrong you're going to be seen everywhere from motorways to shopping - so what difference does it make.'' There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK - one for every 14 people.