Two CCTV units will monitor St Mary's Church and the Square Youth Café in Market Square to clamp down on antisocial behaviour in the area.

A six-meter long 'razor spike' will also be fitted to prevent break-ins to the back of the Square Youth Café.

A gate to the churchyard next to the café will also be locked on evenings when the youth centre is open to prevent youngsters 'dodging in and out of the churchyard unobserved'.

Councillors will rubber stamp the security measures, which will cost more than £2,000, at a meeting on Monday (October 6).

Hailsham Town Council, which runs the Square Youth Café, said some residents of Market Square and Vicarage Road had been victims of vandalism and nuisance caused by 'young persons collecting in groups'.

Rev David Bourne, vicar at St Mary's Church, added some of his congregation had also experienced problems.

Mr Bourne was consulted on the plans and told councillors he supported the new measures.

The CCTV cameras will be fixed to the side of the Square Youth Café and will monitor the churchyard and the side access to the café.

Signs will be put up warning people of the 'razor spike' and explaining that the area was monitored by CCTV.

Councillors said closing the churchyard gate next to the café would be a short-term measure while they looked into the cost of replacing it with one which provided better security.

A senior staff member at the café would be charged with closing the gate before the café opened and unlocking it when the session is finished.

The CCTV equipment — including cameras, a digital video recorder, power supply and lighting — will cost around £2,112 while the 'razor spike' will set the council back £75.

At Monday's full town council meeting, councillors will be asked to back the plans which will 'preserve and enhance the environment of 1 Market Square and the churchyard... for the benefit of all residents'.

Former mayor Nick Ellwood told councillors at a meeting last week the extra security was needed to protect the Square Youth Café, the churchyard and nearby houses.

He said, "The cameras will monitor the church and the Square Youth Café and the digital recording system will ensure all incidents are recorded."

Mayor Ian Haffenden added that support for CCTV had grown after footage from a camera was used in the successful prosecution of Gary Rae's murderers.