SECURITY cameras are to be installed at a beauty spot in Swindon.

Nine cameras will be installed at Lydiard Park, in Lydiard Tregoze, following vandalism there.

Windows have been smashed at Lydiard House, a listed building, and at least one bench has been set alight since the start of last summer.

The £30,000 scheme will be up and running before the end of the year.

Coun Keith Williams, Swindon Council’s lead member for leisure and corporate services, said: “Last summer we were getting some isolated incidents of vandalism.

“Unfortunately a small minority were causing damage.

Coun Williams said the cameras would be sited throughout the park, which has benefitted from £5m of Heritage Lottery Fund cash over the past four years.

Parkland of 260 acres, a children’s play area and restored 18th century walled garden are among its attractions.

He said the £30,000 represented 60 per cent of the £50,000 budget set aside to implement the scheme, and added that installing cameras would be more cost effective than employing 24-hour security staff.

Coun Williams continued: “We have a duty of care to protect what we have there. “The aim is to have the cameras as discreetly and as unobtrusive as possible — we are not talking about putting a camera in the middle of the lawn.

“The vast majority of our visitors to Lydiard Park won’t be aware cameras are there.”

Park manager Stuart Webb was unavailable for comment.

Further information about the park’s attractions at www.lydiardpark.org.uk.