THE CITY of Nice has announced plans to more than double the number of CCTV cameras by the end of this year, becoming the most watched place in France.

Mayor Christian Estrosi has announced 342 extra cameras will be installed, on top of the 282 already operating. He said he wanted Nice to become "the best-equipped town in France" for video-surveillance technology.

Some of these cameras will be equipped with number-plate recognition technology and will be placed on main roads into the city to spot cars that have been reported stolen.

Estrosi unveiled the €7.6m project at the opening of a new CCTV control centre in the city.