Councillors have been forced to rethink plans to increase the number of CCTV cameras in north Oxfordshire after their bid for Government cash was turned down.

The Home Office has refused to give Cherwell District Council money to extend closed circuit television in Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington.

Cherwell wanted around £300,000 from the Home Offfice, but was told towns and cities with higher crime rates had priority.

Steve Huckin, Cherwell's community safety officer, said: "The Home Office had requests for around £200m when it only had £85m for CCTV.

"We are disappointed but not aggrieved. We are still pleased that Bicester and Banbury town councils and Kidlington parish council are willing to support CCTV."

He is looking at ways the systems could be improved and it would be up to councillors to decide what option to take.

Norman Bolster told fellow Bicester town councillors this week he was disappointed with the outcome.

They are to keep £5,000 set aside in the budget as a contribution to extending CCTV in the town centre.

The present scheme in north Oxfordshire notched up its 1,500th arrest days after its sixth birthday this month. A civilian operator of the 25-camera system, based at Banbury Police Station, spotted a security guard stopping an alleged shoplifter outside the OneStop Dillons store in Banbury High Street.

Eight cameras were set up in April 1995, paid for with cash from Thames Valley Police and Cherwell District Council.

At the moment, 25 cameras cover shopping streets, car parks, railway stations and industrial estates, as well as linking with private CCTV systems in shopping centres and factories.

North Oxfordshire is the second area of the county to be refused Home Office funding for more cameras.

South Oxfordshire District Council had wanted the Government to pay the capital costs of new camera systems for Wallingford, Didcot, Thame and Henley. Its bid was rejected, again because the area was perceived as having a low crime rate, and is considering funding the scheme itself.