Cockermouth town councillors are calling for CCTV following a spate of crimes which have left businesses anxious about the future of the town centre.

Criminals have targeted various shops over the festive period, causing thousands of pounds of damage and resulting in many windows being boarded up.

Cockermouth Antiques, on Station Street, was targeted twice in the space of three days, Allisons Chemist, on Main Street, was broken into twice in a week. Lifestyle Repairs, on Station Street, was also broken into and there was an attempted break-in at Alauna Vapour Store, on Main Street.

Gwenda Davies and Elaine Bell run Cockermouth Antiques, which has been broken into six times since September.

During the Christmas period, would-be thieves smashed the Georgian side door and and also a big, front window but were unable to steal anything as the owners had installed metal bars inside the shop following the previous break-ins. Three days later, the window of the front door was broken.

"While they haven't taken anything this costs us thousands to repair," said Mrs Davies.

"There is no police presence in the town, no cameras, we are completely open to these attacks. Our beautiful town is being wrecked by a few individuals, there is a constant fear of them returning.

"We need good quality CCTV which can provide images suitable for prosecution in court."

Mrs Bell said: "It makes you sick, we had just done the Christmas windows. Now we are nearly completely barricaded and losing business because no one can see in. Our trade has been badly affected."

In Lifestyle Repairs next door, someone smashed the window in the door, broke into a display cabinet and stole three watches.

"Shutters are not allowed in a conservation area, something needs to be done or the town will end up with a load of empty shops," said owner Allan Seymour.

"CCTV would be a good start."

Thieves broke into Allisons chemist twice in one week and took a few low value items. Director Nat Mitchell said: "Repairs are going to cost over a thousand, there are also insurance issues.

"People are fed up up and nervous, waiting for the next incident.

"We would welcome CCTV although ideally we would like to see police."

Councillor Alan Smith told a town council meeting: "The damage and crime in the town is to an extent we have never seen before, people are sick of it.

"We have been to the inspector, the police crime commissioner - what next - the Secretary of State?"

The town council voted against installing CCTV about five years.

"The level of crime was just about non existent then but there has been an increase in crime and it's getting worse," said Councillor Smith.

"We need to be looking at CCTV, whether in partnership with the police or Chamber of Trade. If we don't start looking at options no one else will do it."

The council will write to crime commissioner Peter McCall to ask about what CCTV is available and the costs involved.

A police spokesman said: "Arrests and charges have been made as part of officers’ overall inquiries into a number of burglaries and thefts in the town in recent weeks.

"The town is treated as a priority location for officers working in West Cumbria. This leads to officers – both police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) - undertaking regular patrols in town."

Sergeant Suzanne Redikin said: “The local PCSO, Clare Parker, is providing reassurance patrols and working with the shopkeepers, advising them regarding security.

“We want to work with the local shops to prevent further crime and welcome any suggestions from them.”

A police spokesman said providing CCTV was not the responsibility of police but that a number of measures were in place to deter crime in Cockermouth town centre.

He added: "The town is treated as a priority location for officers working in west Cumbria. This leads to officers – both police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) - undertaking regular patrols in town."

This, he said, included foot patrols during the day to deter shoplifters, and officers were regularly re-deployed to the town from other areas if needed.

Sergeant Suzanne Redikin, the manager of the local focus hub based at Cockermouth Police Station, said the force was providing advice to shopkeepers.

She said: “The local PCSO, Clare Parker, is providing reassurance patrols and working with the shopkeepers, advising them regarding security.

“We want to work with the local shops to prevent further crime and welcome any suggestions from them.”

He urged anyone with information about crime in the town to call officers on 101.