CCTV cameras have been installed in a Basildon park in a bid to boost public safety.

Residents can now visit Northlands Park with the confidence that if they fall victim to a crime, evidence is likely to be captured on one of the six CCTV cameras.

There have been calls for additional CCTV for years, with money originally budgeted for cameras in the park in 2017, with a site survey taking place last week.

The park has been the scene of a number of worrying crimes in recent years, including the fatal stabbing of Aydin Eldeniz in the park in December 2017.

In August this year, a pervert exposed himself to schoolgirls - the second incident of its kind since May.

The Basildon Borough Alliance announced on Monday that the CCTV cameras had officially been installed - but deputy leader Kerry Smith stated it does not take away from the loss of police numbers.

And residents echoed the sentiments.

Maria Carter, 47, of the Felmores Estate, said: “This is something we have been calling for for years.

“I know its been discussed countless times, and councillors are often calling for it. But it is great to know they are there now.

“Northlands Park can be a bit dodgy, when my kids were younger they would go over there on their own to play, but I know a lot of parents these days don’t do that anymore because they worry.

“Hopefully this does help. Obviously it is not the same as a police officer, but these days it is unlikely we will have bobbies on the beat anymore so you have to make do with what you can and this should help.”

The Basildon Borough Alliance stated it was “great news to see the cameras installed” on Twitter gaining support from the community.

The installation of the cameras had been delayed, with the council prioritising other areas of the borough since the money was included in the budget.

Mr Smith said: “Anything that keeps the place safe is a good thing.

“You cannot disagree with that at all, nobody can.

“But what you do have to say, is cameras are no replacement for bobbies on the beat.

“We need more police in the community, and we need promises to be kept in regards to boosting police numbers.

“There have been awful cuts and CCTV cameras do not take away from that.”