Banks have been asked to contribute towards the cost of installing CCTV cameras in a shopping district in the wake of two violent robberies.

It comes after a gang robbed Time Gold Jewellers, in The Broadway, Woodford Green, earlier this month, while in April a Securicor guard was attacked and robbed outside the NatWest bank just yards away.

The Woodford Traders Association (WTA) was due to meet with Redbridge Council this week to discuss the possibility of independent shopkeepers helping to fund at least four cameras to increase security in the road.

However the meeting has now been postponed until July because several key council officers are on holiday.

In the meantime, ward councillor Jim O'Shea said HSBC, Barclays and Natwest, which all have branches in The Broadway, had now been approached to see if they would also be willing to contribute towards funding CCTV.

Cllr O'Shea told the Guardian: "I am hopeful they will indeed contribute.

"With the number of robberies that have been happening round here lately they really ought to contribute to this for the benefit of all businesses".

Traders, Cllr O'Shea and council officers are due to meet to discuss the situation on July 3.