A security watch that was started up by a group of beleagured businesses has helped slash crime on an industrial estate.

Firms on Mildenhall Industrial Estate were being hit by burglaries and other crimes at a rate of 20 a month seven years ago.

Spurred on by the spiralling crime rate, and backed by police, businesses on the estate started the Mildenhall Security watch Association.

In that time incidents of crime have been cut to around two a month and the group are looking to step up its presence even more.

John Fisher, of Kings Boilers, is watch chairman and said: 'We keep members regularly informed of suspicious activity in the area. Both police and military police from RAF Mildenhall regularly patrol the estate.

'Forest Heath District Council has been very supportive and has helped us keep in contact with the many businesses in the area, while the council also attends and provides input at our meetings,' he said.

Cllr Nigel Roman, deputy leader of Forest Heath is ward member for Great Heath, which includes the industrial estate.

He said: 'Seven years ago, crime on the industrial estate was a real problem. The businesses have come together in a partnership and I am delighted by their success. We can never afford to get complacent, we do not want the levels of crime to return to where they were, but this just shows how individuals, police and the council can all work together, to all but eliminate what was a very real problem.'