SECURITY cameras have been mooted for vandal-hit Harrington Harbour after the dock was ransacked by fire-starting yobs.

The crackdown comes after a group of teenagers started a fire behind the West Quay enclosure before objects, including a lifebelt and lobster pots,  were strewn across the dock.

Speaking after a meeting of the Harrington and Harbour Dock Board, council safety chief Barry Chambers said the effects of the fire could have been “catastrophic” had sparks ignited the diesel in the nearby boats.

Responding to the problem, members agreed to put the CCTV proposals forward as an “action” to be discussed at the next meeting.

The Board will also ask the council’s programme director Richard Quayle if Digital Allerdale – a digital infrastructure project – can be extended down to the harbour as part of any surveillance plan.

The project launched in March saw the creation of a low-power wide-area network through which devices across a broad area can transmit and receive information.

Coun Jim Osborn suggested the cameras should be placed somewhere “discreet” so they could not be targeted by vandals, but the meeting heard they would be placed “at a height” – possibly on a lamppost.

Harbour master Ged Doran was told of the fire by one of the mooring holders on November 18 and came out to confront the youngsters.

He said: “I received a phone call from one of the moorings holders to report a fire which had been started by several youths behind the West Quay enclosure.

“They had climbed over the gates and started throwing fish boxes, a lifebelt, pieces of timber and lobster pots about. I remonstrated with them. Two of them said ‘sorry’ and left immediately. The other three stayed. A member of the public called the police but unfortunately, by the time they arrived, they had gone.”

Barry Chambers, the council’s safety resilience manager, urged people at the meeting to be “wary” about confronting people in the harbour area.

“Your safety is more important than anything,” he added.