A COVERT closed-circuit TV spy van will soon hit the streets of Fareham to catch on camera vandals who are terrorising the borough.

Backed by the Daily Echo and manned by undercover police officers, the van will patrol the borough's vandalism hotspots in a bid to stamp out antisocial behaviour.

"Nobody will know what to expect - but expect to be caught" is the message from Fareham Council leader Sean Woodward.

Film gathered by the covert crew will be used to prosecute anyone who destroys or defaces property in areas, such as playgrounds, where warning signs have been put up.

And although £30,000 had been earmarked for the vehicle council chiefs have only forked out a fraction of that - by using an old council van that has cost just £3,500 to convert.

Councillor Woodward said: "Quite simply we've gone for the old banger rather than something that looks pristine but that stands out. It will be hi-tech on the inside but certainly not on the outside.

"This is one of the major things that I planned when I set up the vandalism task force. It has taken some time but it will help with our zero tolerance policy to vandalism."

The spy van is set to hit the road for the first time any day now and it will be used daily at various times.

It is the latest measure to be introduced as part of the council's Vandalism Task Force which was set up last year to combat the mindless crime that costs tax payers over £50,000 a year.

The initiative is backed by the Daily Echo's Smash The Vandals campaign and includes a reward scheme that pays up to £1,000 to people who supply information that leads to the successful conviction of a vandal.