The cameras were set up before the trees were in full bloom

Machynlleth's CCTV system has been working since early April.

When the cameras were installed last winter there were no leaves on trees at the town's main street which is covered by two cameras.

But police have now found that when they view Maengwyn Street their vision is blocked by the trees which are now in full bloom.

This is a pre-emptive measure so that we can sort out the situation before any incident takes place," Terry Slater, police sergeant

The trees are owned by Machynlleth Town Council which has received a letter from Machynlleth's police sergeant, Terry Slater.

"Part of the view of one of the cameras is being obscured by the trees because of the growth that are on them at the moment," said Sgt Slater.

"There is no way that we want to chop down the trees because they are looking wonderful at the moment.

Lamp post

"But we have written to the town council to see if the trees can be pruned a bit."

He said the move had not been made because the police had not been able to identify any criminals.

"This is a pre-emptive measure so that we can sort out the situation before any incident takes place," he added.

The town was awarded £25,000 by the Welsh Assembly's Communities First project to set up the two surveillance cameras in the town in October 2001.

The town council will discuss the matter at the end of June

Machynlleth's county councillor Michael Williams said the town council would discuss the problem at its next meeting on 30 June.

"I am sure the town council will recognise the need for adequate visibility for the two cameras.

"But on the other hand, the trees are looking wonderful at the moment."

The system was supposed to be up and running by March 2002 but a series of problems meant the project was delayed for a year.

Problems with Machynlleth's CCTV system started when a plan to place the first camera on a lamp-post near the town clock was stalled because the lamp post was too wobbly.

This meant that a purpose-built pole had to be built at the clock site.

Setting up the town's second camera in the main street also caused a delay because of problems finding anyone willing to have the camera mounted on their property.