Traffic wardens in Celbridge, Co Kildare have begun wearing little cameras to record people who abuse or even assault them.

APCOA Parking, which has the contract for parking supervision in the area, said the cameras have been introduced on a trial basis.

Wardens wear badges with a built-in camera that also displays information about the recording on them.

Alf Bucke, a warden supervisor in Celbridge, has said that the video badge is helping to diffuse difficult situations.

Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, he said: "Usually someone would come up to you and ask you why have you given them a fine and then it goes into abusive language.

"Where now they look at the badge and they can see it's being recorded and they're watching what they're saying to you."

He said that while the wardens are not obliged to tell people they are being recorded, the practice has been advertised in the media.

Gardaí have also been informed that cameras are being used.