Concerns over the safety of Helston's town warden were raised last Thursday as one of the town's police officers urged for precautionary measures to be put in place.

PC Derek Cormack, from Helston police station, said he feared that town warden Glenn Manning would not be able to summon for help if he found himself in danger while going about his work.

PC Cormack told members of Helston town council, Mr Manning's employer: "I appreciate that this council doesn't wish the role to be seen as connected to the police or an extension to the police. However, I feel that as the role develops in to such areas as the issuing of parking tickets, it therefore increases the possibility of confrontational situations. At present, he would have no way of summoning assistance."

He encouraged councillors to consider a suggestion from neighbourhood beat manager PC Nigel Treloar, who proposed that Mr Manning be given one of the two-way radios that are used as part of the town's Shop Watch scheme, linking shopkeepers to the CCTV centre in Hayle and also police.

"For the warden to have such a radio it would be beneficial to his own safety and welfare and be another pair of eyes in the town. Confrontational incidents can arise from very simple matters and I wouldn't wish him to be on a limb and not able to summon assistance. We're not looking upon him as a substitute in any way. It's just for his own safety," added PC Cormack.

Councillor Paul Phillips was in favour of the scheme. He said: "I think provided the proper protocol is set up between the police and us and it's properly managed, we can't deny him this facility. It's for his own safety. We are his employers and I think we should do all we can to keep him safe on the streets at least."

In a brief report to the council, PC Treloar explained that a radio, battery and case could be purchased for £200, or could be rented for £25.45 a month. A licence would cost an additional £75 a year. Coun Phillips believed that a radio should be bought rather than rented, although councillor Keith Reynolds was concerned that some kind of maintenance contract should be looked into, in case of accidental damage. It was agreed that town clerk Chris Dawson should look into the costs of maintaining a radio.