MIDDLEWICH shop owners have cautiously welcomed the idea of a business watch scheme but are unsure how effective it would be.

David Latham, who owns two business premises on Hightown, says criminal damage and vandalism in the town is getting worse and wants to set up a scheme similar to the Middlewich Pubwatch to allow shop owners to look out for each other.

Mel Ollier, of Caf Bar M in Wheelock Street, says she would support the idea if it would help prevent anti-social behaviour but she does not think criminal damage is a major problem in the town.

She said: "Caf Bar M would think it's a good idea if it stops vandalism.

But she added: "You've always got your eye out for other businesses anyway, I don't know how much more you could do. Perhaps the town council could come up with a grant for some shutters for all the shops in the town.

"There isn't really that much of a problem though. Middlewich is very quiet - people should be proud to live in such a nice town."

But Helen Stubbs, who works at Beauty Fix, in Hightown, disagrees.

She said: "It is a real problem. Shopkeepers are going to the expense of roller shutter and CCTV cameras just to protect their shops.

"Even the church has had to get grills on the windows, which is awful."