Police will be bringing in 'Big Brother' cameras as part of a regatta crackdown on drink-fuelled problems which marred last year's huge event.

For the first time in the regatta's history, police will be using the force's CCTV van to record any incidents during the event which sees tens of thousands of people flocking to the town each August.

They are warning drinkers they will be dealing 'robustly' with any drunkenness.

And they will be targeting pubs and other drinking establishments which fail keep to the licensing rules.

Sgt Robert Tansley said: 'The Dartmouth regatta is a fantastic event and this year there has been a huge push towards more family activities which will attract large crowds.

'We will, accordingly, have extra police officers on duty.

'It will be policed as a fun event but because of some isolated problems last year we will recording all incidents involving alcohol and working in conjunction with licensing officers to identify any premises not taking their responsibilities to their customers and staff seriously.

'For the first time we will also be utilising a police CCTV van to record incidents wherever they occur.

'We will be dealing with individuals drinking excessively on both sides of the river robustly.'

Last year police recorded 11 incidents of violence during the regatta, including an attack on a police sergeant and assaults where one man was knocked unconscious in a pub and another ended up with a broken jaw.

For the full story see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle