EXTRA police have been funded by councillors in Aireborough and Horsforth in a desperate bid to reduce crime and the fear of it in town centres.

Yeadon, Guiseley and Horsforth are already feeling the benefit from £16,000 of cash from Leeds City Council's Comm-unity Involvement Teams (CITs).

The measures will see 840 extra hours of police time being spent in regular crime hotspots.

Aireborough and Horsforth CITs each paid £8,000 for more police beat time and the amounts were match-funded by Weetwood Police.

Officers have already started their beats and residents have been promised a greater police presence on the streets as well as in target areas.

Aireborough CIT chairman Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Aireborough) said: "This money will enable the police to spend more time in our patches and we have benefited already.

"The patrols have already had a very good effect on the Henshaw estate where there is sometimes bad behaviour and trouble.

"In the short time the police have been on the beat residents have already said to me that we have done some good and we are very happy with that."

In Horsforth the police overtime is just part of a big package of crime fighting measures being introduced.

Closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) are working in the town thanks to money from Horsforth CIT, the town council and Home Office money.

Eventually there will be six cameras in the town centre. Five are already up and the sixth should be in place within weeks - just in time for the Chrsitmas period.

Residents completed a council questionnaire 18 months ago as part of the community plan and public safety came at the top of the list of their priorities.

Horsforth CIT chairman Coun Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said: "The CCTV is something that we have worked towards for a long time and the cameras will certainly be instrumental in fighting crime.

"People who are not doing anything wrong can be sure that they are safe and people who are breaking the law can be sure that they will be caught."

The cameras will be monitored 24-hours-a-day at a dedicated control room in Wetherby, which has an instant emergency link to Weetwood Police.

Three cameras will be sited on Town Street, one in Station Road and two in New Road Side.

Both CIT areas, as well as Otley, will also benefit from motorbike riding wardens for parks and public places.

The £70,000 scheme will see the two wardens patrolling the three wards from 10am to 10pm.

Their job will be to oversee public areas and record anti-social behaviour.

Coun Townsley added: "These measures should go a long way to making people feel safe again after some of the terrible crimes we have seen in Horsforth over the past months.

"The overall message is clear - we mean business. We need for people to feel safe at home and in going about their everyday pursuits, we want to deter unruly behaviour and we want to warn off any would-be lawbreakers."

Otley CIT has decided against the funding of extra police in the town, although it is backing the provision of motorcycle wardens in the area.

Otley CIT chairman Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) said: "We believe that there is not the demand for extra police in Otley in so far as the limited money we could provide would not reward us with sufficient time to make a difference.

"However, if the demand does change we may think again as to how to pay for extra police."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We have received funding matched by Weetwood Police and as a result officers are focussing on priority crimes including burglaries and robberies.

"We are pleased to receive the extra funding which has enabled them to dedicate extra resources to the area which is already the focus of targeted policing."