An initiative between motorway service station operator Welcome Break and Stroud District Council to combat crime at Michaelwood Services and the surrounding towns has been hailed as a success.

Bosses from the service station on the M5 put £5,000 towards the cost of security cameras on the southbound forecourt, with the council paying a similar amount.

The scheme was the idea of policeman George Sharp, whose area includes Michaelwood.

Michaelwood forecourt manager Carol Giles (pictured above) said: “The cameras enable us to identify any driver that drives off the forecourt without paying for petrol and pass the information immediately on to the police.

“They are an excellent deterrent and the number of people driving off without paying has decreased, which is good news for us and the police.

"The cameras have been a great success and a very worthwhile investment"