Traders in Burgess Hill have cut shoplifting by 60 per cent by using walkie-talkies to catch thieves.

Members of Shopwatch radio fellow traders to alert them when known shoplifters are seen in the area.

Lee Appleby, owner of The Locker Room, Church Road, is one of the latest traders to join the scheme.

He said: "I joined because of the need to stop shoplifters and prevent people making themselves a nuisance in the shop.

"I also employ quite a few female staff and the radio is extra security for them."

Shop owners pay about £300 for the handset, which is also linked to police. It then costs £10 a year.

If staff see someone suspicious they log on to alert other traders.

They have codes to identify suspected thieves.

Mr Appleby, who is one of 21 traders involved in the project, said: "We know the local shoplifters.

"But thieves travel from Crawley and London to small towns like Burgess Hill because they think the shops are an easy touch."

Shopwatch was set up two years ago with the help of local police and The Market Place Shopping Centre.

Centre manager Chris Goldfinch said since then shoplifting in the town centre has dropped by 60 per cent.

It has also made staff more aware of thieves. If they catch a shoplifter they often make a citizen's arrest and call police.

Mr Goldfinch said police had retrieved almost £10,000 of stolen goods after searching property as a result of such calls.

He added: "The scheme has been very successful with shops both in and outside the shopping centre."