COLCHESTER town centre’s CCTV is set for a £45,000 overhaul.

The town’s network has come under fire after pictures released by police in connection with a number of incidents, including the murder of James Attfield, in Castle Park in March, were criticised for not being clear enough.

The money to update it has been set aside in Colchester Council’s budget for 2015/16.

It will be used to upgrade “strategically important” cameras in “key areas in the town centre” to high-definition quality.

The new cameras will also include state-of-the-art night vision, to combat a drop in picture quality when street lights are turned off after midnight.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor responsible for community safety, said: “We have had some tragic incidents in Colchester and I know the criticism which has been levelled.

“I can only hope the upgrade in CCTV will deter people who are thinking of committing a crime and will let people know they live in a safe environment.”

Mr Young revealed the request had come directly from town centre CCTV operators.

He added: “I make regular visits to the centre and they just said ‘most of the cameras are really good, but there are a few in strategic positions which really do need an upgrade’.

“They are the experts and we have to listen to them.”

Finance chief Paul Smith added: “Honestly, we were looking at the upgrade before we had these tragic incidents because we were aware some elements of the CCTV were getting a little old, but they have added urgency to it.

“It takes investment, which has been difficult to find, but we have decided to do it now.”

A senior detective had previously said the investigation into Mr Attfield’s murder was limited by the quality of the CCTV in the area around Castle Park.

Det Chief Supt Steve Worron said some footage which had been recovered “was not of a suitable standard”, adding the images were “fuzzy”.

Colchester’s town centre network contains more than 120 cameras.