The Environment Agency is installing a £30,000 CCTV camera with infra-red, night vision capabilities, to monitor Godmanchester Lock.

Godmanchester is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, where vandalism to the lock has necessitated £20,000 of repair work being carried out.

It is hoped that the new camera, which will operate 24/7, will deter further vandalism. The camera is six-meters high, and was transported to the lock on a barge.

Images from the camera will be fed to Huntingdonshire District Council’s CCTV control room in Huntingdon, where it will be monitored 24 hours a day.

The lock attracts gangs of youth, who swim in the water and jump from the top of the guillotine gates. In 2007 they jammed the downstream gates open, then slammed them shut with such force that urgent repairs were required.

Further improvements at the site will also be include powered gates to increase site security.

A loud speaker system will be installed, allowing CCTV operators from the Huntingdon control room to speak directly to people at the lock.

The new camera will also be used to monitor traffic on the A14, and watch river levels.