Traders in Otley are being warned to be on their guard against shoplifters in the run-up Christmas.

They fear thieves could target unprotected towns outside Leeds' closed circuit television system.

And Otley's Town Watch scheme is urging members to raise the alarm if they spot anyone acting suspiciously.

James Barber, owner of James Barber's Tobacconists, has told staff to be extra vigilant after he grabbed a thief after a chase around the market place.

Mr Barber said: "It's always been a problem, especially now they are moving outside the city where there are very good security cameras to deter them."

And he repeated calls for security cameras in Otley adding: "At the end of the day we only want four to six cameras to cover the whole town."

His concerns are echoed by Trevor Backhouse, of Patisserie Viennoise, who believes more bobbies on the beat would deter thieves.

He said: "Every trader knows you have to watch out at this time of year. We should as a town have more police presence as a deterrent.

"If somebody sees a police man outside Kirkgate, there's less chance of shoplifters going into that area."

And Yvonne Davis, membership secretary of the Town Watch Scheme, added: "It's the people who you don't suspect who are often responsible.

"A customer in Superdrug spotted someone who looked very respectable putting something in his jacket."

Now she is urging traders to make full use of the Town Watch system, which is used to warn other shops when a shoplifter is spotted.

Ms Davis added: "No matter what you do, at this time of year, there's always going to be someone who is trying to get something for nothing."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.