Maryport might be forced to choose between enjoying community and educational events and having CCTV cameras in the town centre.

The town council has been calling for new CCTV to be installed for several years. But Cumbria police say it is not their responsibility and the force has no funding for CCTV.

If it wants to buy its own they would cost £57,000 – plus extra ongoing charges for the police to monitor them.

Town council chairwoman Angela Kendall said it could not afford to foot the bill without cutting things from its existing budget and much would be lost if it was forced to provide CCTV.

She added: “We would honestly have to look at ways to fund them, including cancelling the Christmas lights switch-on, the summer fun day and our involvement with schools.

“I think the town council does what it should – it provides for the people of Maryport. We do not have £57,000 waiting to be spent.”

Councillor Kendall said Maryport should be entitled to what anyone else has and added that CCTV made people feel safer on the street.

Councillors claimed last week that the cost of CCTV was leaving the town with a second-class policing service.

They claimed they were being ignored by police and had asked for costings as a last-ditch attempt to help provide an adequate standard of crime prevention in the town.

Their concern has been echoed by people in Maryport after an elderly man was robbed at a cashpoint in Senhouse Street on Wednesday.

Residents expressed concern on Facebook that without CCTV this type of crime would not be solved.

Increases in violent crime and incidents of town centre vandalism led to the renewed calls for Maryport to be given the same level of service as other towns.

Coun Carni McCarron-Holmes said: “The previous police and crime commissioner earmarked a substantial amount of money for CCTV. It went to Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow. Is the crime so much higher in those areas?”

In 2011, police announced the closure of 13 stations, including Maryport. Police began and finished shifts in Workington and stopped monitoring the CCTV which was then in place in the town.

Since then the council has been fighting to have upgraded CCTV which would be monitored at the Penrith HQ.

In August, a rise in violent crime culminating in a fatal stabbing led to a renewed call for CCTV in the town.

Coun Peter Kendall said its presence might not have prevented a tragic death but if people were aware there were working cameras they would be a deterrent.

He added that the council had contributed financially towards the CCTV cameras which were rendered useless after the station closed.

In September, following two attacks on a local pub, the Middle Tap, crime commissioner Peter McCall said he would look at ways of funding CCTV for the town.

This week, Chief Insp Ben Swinson said the police would work closely with Maryport and other communities in West Cumbria to explore all avenues to tackle anti-social behaviour.

He added: “This will involve looking at a broad range of initiatives and schemes. CCTV could be one of these but there are strict guidelines and costs associated with the inception of such systems and we will work with partners, including district and town councils and private businesses, to explore these.”

Cumbria police have previously told Cockermouth and Keswick town councils that no funding is available for new CCTV in the county.