The plea comes following trouble with gangs of youths hanging around Wimborne Place in Ashby Fields. There have been problems with juvenile nuisance and criminal damage for the past two years, leading to one resident describing them as “vermin”.

Vicki Groombridge, who lives in Ashby Fields, said: “CCTV would help with these problems as it would keep an eye on people. It would act as a deterrent to the kids if they could see someone watching them.

“The youths are like vermin, they just cause trouble. These problems have been on going for the past two years and they have just got worse and worse in that time.”

Incidents include youths tearing up cobbles from around the shops and throwing them at nearby play equipment and around the car park.

The problems have carried on despite a police operation last summer at Wimborne Place and Daventry Country Park designed to reduce antisocial behaviour.

The operation was executed by the Daventry North Safer Community Team which has continued to treat Wimborne Place as a hotspot with regular patrols in the area.

Businesses at Wimbourne Place have also called for CCTV.

Marguerite Beezbold, pharmacy assistant at Alliance, said: “The youngsters cause a nuisance for people who are going out shopping. The problems get worse the darker it gets and people are a lot more scared. Having CCTV would help the situation.”

Mark Pemberton, manager of the Queen of Hearts pub, said: “It is quite intimidating for the elderly and for women going to do their shopping.

“I would like to see CCTV installed and for the police to carry on the patrols. Hopefully both these things combined will stop the gangs causing trouble.”

Despite this, Daventry District Council has ruled out installing CCTV even though a post for a camera is available.

A council spokesman said: “There are no plans to install CCTV at Wimborne Place.”