A digital television service which will enable residents to monitor live footage from CCTV cameras in their neighbourhood could soon be rolled out in the Midlands.

The scheme, launched in Shoreditch, east London, yesterday, is to help residents lead the fight against crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

The Digital Bride system will enable subscribers to monitor a dedicated network of 12 "Community Cam" CCTV cameras via their own television sets.

It went live yesterday with a formal launch by the Minister for London and Neighbourh ood Renewal, Jim Fitzpatrick.

As well as enabling residents to monitor the CCTV cameras from their homes, the service will allow police to make direct appeals for information via real-time "incident alerts" that break into regular programming.

Residents will also be able to download images of graffiti, vandalism and anti-social behaviour and forward them electronically to the council, then monitor online response and removal times.

And it will carry a series of dedicated local crime prevention programmes, featuring details of on-going investigations, photo-fit appeals and crime prevention advice.

The project is being funded by the Government, European Structural Funds and the private sector, and is endorsed by Hackney police.

It has been produced by the Shoreditch Trust, a "community based regeneration body" managed by residents.

Stage one will see the service rolled out to 22,000 residents across Shoreditch this summer. The next stage in the autumn will see it extended to 70,000 households across the whole of Hackney.