It is a criminal's worst nightmare: a security camera which tells you what to do.

Smart "FlashCams" have been trialled by Shepway District Council in Cheriton, where charity shops have been repeatedly targeted by vandals.

The cameras are the only ones in Kent and have motion sensors which, when triggered, set off a pre-recorded message telling potential offenders their photo has been taken.

The council is now trialling the three portable cameras, which at £6,000 are cheaper than CCTV, which costs up to £30,000 per camera, all over Folkestone.

Shaun Taylor, the council's anti-social behaviour manager, said: "This is not so much about catching people as it is about stopping anti-social behaviour happening in the first place.

"Unlike conventional CCTV, the FlashCam follows the problem: it doesn't wait for the problem to come to it."

Jill Daniels, the manager of Scope in Cheriton Road, said the cameras had stopped many of the shop's problems.

She said: "We were one of the first to have it put in about six weeks ago.

"Rubbish was being thrown all over the car park and people were lighting fires out there - it was dreadful.

"The camera has done a marvellous job. It's really done the trick."

And Robert Baldock, manager of Sue Ryder Care in Cheriton High Street, told the Express he wanted the cameras to be rolled out near his shop.

"We don't have a camera yet and our bins were raided twice last week," he said. "It would be useful if they could put one in."

The council will consider buying more cameras at the end of the trial period.