NEARLY 40 businesses in Burnham, Highbridge, Berrow and Brean have signed up to a new crime-fighting scheme to send thieves and drunken yobs packing.

The Bridgwater and Burnham Security Group have joined forces with the Taunton Retailers Against Crime scheme to form Somerset West Businesses Against Crime.

Businesses signed up to SWBAC, including shops, holiday parks, pubs and clubs in the Burnham and Highbridge area, receive radios linking them to each other and police and CCTV operators - so they can provide early warnings if they spot known offenders in their premises.

They will also have access to mug shots of crooks operating in the area and organisers plan to set up an exclusion scheme where persistent shoplifters and other criminals are barred from entering at all.

Andy Sharman, SWBAC co-ordinator, says the system will help businesses save thousands of pounds by cutting crimes like thefts from shops and late night violence in bars and pubs.

He said: “It will make sure staff are informed and equipped to prevent them becoming victims of crime, which can be a traumatic experience.

“We need to help keep businesses going to prevent more ghost towns and this scheme will do that and in turn make the whole community feel safer.”

The Secret World charity shop in Victoria Street, Burnham, has signed up and deputy manager Will Stewart believes it gives staff more warning if there is any trouble on the way.

And Martin Lloyd, chairman of Burnham Pubwatch, says it will give pub landlords and business owners more power to keep troublemakers out.

TO find out more about SWBAC visit www.swbac.org.uk