THE DISCOVERY of a security camera pointing against a concrete wall has fuelled concerns over the state of the CCTV system on a Redbridge housing estate.

The camera, which is attached to one of the tower blocks on the Orchard Estate, in Woodford Green, is part of a network of 35 devices originally installed to improve security for residents.

The discovery will do little allay the concerns of people living in the area who claim that several other CCTV cameras there are now either broken or that their footage is too poor quality to be used as evidence by the police.

The Guardian discovered the camera pointing against a wall when we visited the estate to check out the state of the CCTV network.

Dad-of-three, Rubel Khan, said he had seen several cameras pointed in the wrong direction on the estate.

He said: "I couldn't say for certain whether they are broken or not - only the council would know that - but a few of them are pointing in weird directions like up in the sky.

"It's almost as though someone has been going around moving them or something. I don't know how though.

"They're not much use if they aren't pointing the right way."

Redbridge Homes has refused to make any further comment on the issue.