CRIME-BUSTING retailers are hoping to extend their successful initiative to an edge of town shopping centre.

Congleton Radio Link has helped bring to justice numerous shoplifters since starting up in the town about 18 months ago.

The scheme has 22 members, and operates by shopkeepers alerting each other and the police of problems via individual short wave radios.

Members are due to run radio reception trials at West Heath Shopping Precinct in the coming weeks with a view to signing up centre shopkeepers.

Retailers in Lawton Street and West Street are being urged to join the radio link scheme, which is also hoping to sign up three more national stores.

"Since we moved our aerial to a higher strategic point we have been able to cover the whole of Congleton, from West Heath to Buglawton and Hightown," said radio link member Ian Swann.

"We're hoping to get some people in West Street and Lawton Street to join, because they are good escape routes out of town for criminals.

"Trails are due to be carried out at West Heath shopping centre to see how good the signal is, and if it's OK we will be trying to recruit precinct retailers.

"The cost is £23 a month plus VAT, which we believe is the cheapest radio scheme in the country."

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