A bid for £36,000 towards a crime-busting mobile closed circuit television system for Tendring has been unsuccessful.

Tendring Council applied for the Government cash to put towards the total cost of £120,000 for the initiative.

But Harwich MP Ivan Henderson has learnt that the council has missed out.

"I met with home office minister Charles Clarke and have been advised that he has not been able to sanction the bid because of problems within the submission," he said.

Mr Henderson has asked for the council to be given a detailed report outlining where it had gone wrong so a new bid could be submitted in the next round - and as quickly as possible.

"The minister is happy for it to be resubmitted as soon as possible in a format which is acceptable to the Home Office," he added.

Mike Page, public relations manager for Tendring Council, said it was a major blow and disappointing.

He said: "It is difficult to know just why we have been unsuccessful but it won't prevent us applying again if that is an option."

Mr Page said the portable cameras were seen as a vital tool in helping to reduce crime. The fact they were moblie meant they could be taken out to hotspots or trouble areas where a fixed system did not exist.

They could be particularly useful in rural areas which would otherwise not have them.

Mr Page said the whole system would cost £120,000 and the council would have the match-funding in place to be able to go-ahead if it got the £36,000 from the Government.

Mr Henderson said he would do anything he could to help the council reapply.

"A mobile unit would be invaluable for our district and I have ensured that the minister is aware of this," he added.

"He was very sympathetic and I am very grateful to him for his assistance with regard to a new bid."

A bid is to be made in an attempt to set up a £100,000 CCTV scheme in Harwich and Dovercourt.

Gerald Wallington-Hayes, chairman of the Harwich Crime Prevention Panel, said he would be submitting the bid to the Government before the end of the month.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.