Street wardens could soon be patrolling the streets of Yeovil East and Central wards after another financial hurdle was climbed this week.

South Somerset District Council decided to play its part by pledging £7,332 for the two coming financial years despite raising some concern.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary has won government funding to cover 50 per cent of costs for a total of eight wardens throughout the force area - with two being earmarked for Yeovil if local funding can be found.

A total of £22,000 is needed from local sources, and it is hoped that Yeovil Town Council and South Somerset Homes will chip in with the remaining £14,000 or so.

Street wardens will act to reduce crime and the fear of crime as well as acting as a link between the community and police.

The concept is nationwide and has had a mixed response so far, with certain groups and individuals referring to them as "toy cops".

A police officer, who attended this Wednesday's meeting of the council's Area South Committee, said wardens should not be seen as second tier policemen but as a resource to the community.

They will undergo a minimum of six weeks training but will only have powers to carry out what is known as a citizen's arrest.

Councillors expressed some concern, with Peter Gubbins remarking that the kind of characters causing trouble in Milford Park were unlikely to take any notice of someone lacking the powers of the police.

The police officer present said it was a valid point but added that wardens represented a way of attacking crime from a non-enforcement angle.

Caroline Matthews, the council's community safety officer, appeared to turn the debate around when she said that a warden spotting a crime would testify in court, which is not always the case with members of the public.

It was reported that both Yeovil Town Council and South Somerset Homes were still to make their decisions on whether to sponsor the scheme or not.

Councillor Tony Fife said it would be appropriate for South Somerset Homes to pay their part as they indirectly caused some of the problems by placing unsuitable tenants in the areas discussed.

He also added that he was in favour of the district council doing their bit, although he was unhappy with certain aspects of the scheme.

The vote that was taken finished 15-1 in favour of making the contribution, but it is unclear what will happen if the two other organisations oppose the idea.

The recommendation that councillors voted was "conditional on similar amounts being raised through Yeovil Town Council and South Somerset Homes".