crime busting cameras in the sky, which will cover pedestrian routes in Eastleigh's town centre development, are now up and running.

The extra 12 cameras have been added to the town's current 44 closed-circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance network.

The system now monitors the main pedestrian route from Wells Place along Factory Road and through to the former Pirelli factory site where hundreds of new homes have been built.

But council chiefs says that special precautions have been taken to ensure privacy for residents.

Peter Baldry, co-ordinator for the Eastleigh Community Safety Partnership, said: "It is important to reassure residents that by electronically blanking out any windows none of the cameras on the Eastleigh system can view into private homes."

Eastleigh's CCTV network has been a huge success in the fight against crime and making the town's residents and visitors feel safer.

Mr Baldry said: "The introduction of CCTV to the town centre had had a significant impact on reducing the concerns of fear and crime among visitors and residents.

"Last year police statistics showed that more than 180 arrests for a variety of offences were made as a direct result of the CCTV network in Eastleigh - the highest figure since they were installed eight years ago."

The £190,000 scheme has been paid for by developers' contributions.

Eastleigh's CCTV system started rolling in 1997 with 12 cameras. Now there are 56 cameras covering the main shopping streets, service roads, the town's car parks, railway and bus stations, taxi rank, Leigh Road Recreation Ground and The Point.

The crime busting cameras have also spread to Eastleigh's southern parishes where they are operating at Hedge End.