Wells High Street has been named a crime hotspot by police after a surge in shoplifting left local businesses fed up and demanding action.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the city centre is now officially a high-priority area for patrols under the force's Neighbourhood Guarantee, following a sharp rise in thefts from shops.

The move comes after traders met with neighbourhood officers to raise serious concerns about repeat offences, lack of deterrents, and the growing impact on their livelihoods.

In response, uniformed officers and special constables have been deployed in force — with high-visibility patrols stepped up across the city centre to catch offenders in the act and send a message that theft won't be tolerated.

"Shoplifting continues to be a concern in the city centre," said a police spokesperson. "Wells High Street has been identified as one of the areas most in need of extra resources. We're responding with increased patrols and continued support for affected businesses."

Police say they are now looking at further initiatives to tackle the problem head-on and are urging shop owners to keep reporting every single incident, either online or by calling 101.