Deception has fallen more than 40 per cent in a town centre thanks to a scheme which uses thumb prints to deter fraudsters.

During the past year, the thumb print scheme was launched as part of Haywards Heath Shopwatch, which is celebrating its fourth year, and has now been extended to nearby villages.

Retailers ask shoppers to put their thumb prints on the back of their cheques or credit card receipts. If it is later discovered to be stolen or fraudulent then the police can trace it back to the person who used it.

Since its introduction in the town, fraud has fallen by 41 per cent in general and by 83 per cent in shops that use the scheme.

The Shopwatch scheme also uses other methods to stop crime, including a radio link between shops, a retail crime operation file containing photos of known criminals, and property stamping.

Shoplifting figures have fallen although this year's overall figures have stayed at last year's levels.

Meanwhile, police in Crawley hope a scheme that uses thumb prints to cut credit card fraud will also help reduce burglary and car crime.

Staff in shops in County Mall are asking customers to put their thumb print on the back of their cheque or credit card receipt.

The prints can then be checked by police.

Town centre officer PC Jon Carter said: "If we reduce the places where stolen cards can be used it reduces the need to obtain cards - hence fewer cars broken into and fewer houses burgled."

County Mall centre deputy manager Duncan McKenzie said: "We like the scheme because of the simplicity of the thumb print scheme."