WALKIE talkies have been snapped up by Otley traders in a bid to fight shoplifters.

Around 40 shops and businesses in the town have signed up to the trial radio link system aimed at keeping them in constant touch with each other and the police.

And already the scheme, just one week old, has helped warn businesses against potential criminals as well as reunite a lost nine-year-old with her parents.

Trevor Backhouse, president of the Otley and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "I think it's a superb idea. We can keep track of shoplifters as they go around the town."

Businesses sign on first thing in the morning and sign off before they shut up in the evening.

But throughout the day the walkie talkies are left on with messages relayed across when they come in.

Mr Backhouse said the scheme was a vast improvement on the old ring-a-round scheme, which depended on businesses calling each other with warnings, and also the Voicemail system from police which could easily be out of date.

Dawn Merrick, manager at Conways Toymaster in Westgate, said it was early days but she thought the new system would work well.

"Particularly with us being in Westgate, away from the centre, it makes us more in contact."

She believed more shoplifters were coming to places like Otley because they were being chased out of bigger towns with security cameras fitted.

"It shows we're fighting back, we don't want to push them to another town, we want to tell them they're not wanted anywhere," said Mrs Merrick.

On Saturday, the shop was able to make very good use of the system when a nine-year-old girl was left by mistake in the shop.

"She had come in with a big group of friends and relatives. They split up and I think both groups thought she had gone with the other."

Once she realised she had been left, the girl found Mrs Merrick. A quick search was made and then a message put out on the radio.

"Her mother heard her name mentioned while she was in another shop and within ten minutes was back, they were all very pleased."

PC Heidi Beardsmore, of Otley Community Policing Team, said it was the latest of a series of initiatives which included a thumbprint scheme to cut down credit card fraud.

"Although the scheme has only been running a week, there has been some very positive feedback. On several occasions during the last week well known shoplifters have been identified and tracked and once they realised the shopkeepers were watching them and using the radios, they left town. The safety of staff is enhanced.

"Several shops have indicated that it has already saved them money. It has definitely improved the community spirit in the town and I hope they will continue to use them after the trial period."

Otley Town Watch has been going for four years and is a partnership between town businesses and the police.

l More details from PC Heidi Beardsmore on (01943) 858035.