A Pioneering CCTV scheme has notched up its 1,500th arrest days after its sixth birthday.

An operator of the 25-camera system, which is based at Banbury police station, spotted a security guard stopping an alleged shoplifter outside the OneStop Dillons store in Banbury High Street on Saturday. A police officer was immediately sent to the scene, and the man was arrested. He has since been charged with theft and is due to appear before magistrates.

The camera system provides round-the-clock surveillance in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington. Eight cameras were set up in April, 1995, paid for with cash from Thames Valley Police and Cherwell District Council. Now the cameras cover shopping streets, car parks, railway stations and industrial estates, as well as linking with private CCTV systems in shopping centres and factories.

Supt John Liversidge, who oversees the system, said it was "fantastic" the system was proving so successful.

He added: "Obviously it goes in peaks and troughs, but over the last couple of months it has helped us arrest about ten to 12 people a month."

Recently the CCTV system aided the arrest of a conman who had tricked an elderly woman before burgling her house. The conman was jailed for three years.

The system's sixth anniversary was celebrated by Supt Liversidge and Cherwell District Council chief executive Grahame Handley, who cut a birthday cake.