TWO new £22,000 mobile laser and video systems will soon be installed to target speeding motorists.

The Safety Camera Partnership for West Mercia has announced that the new manually-operated Class 1 Laser systems linked to a recorder, would be tested in the force area to catch speeders.

And project manager for the partnership, Trevor McAvoy also said 20 new speed trap sites would become operational in "the next few months" across the West Mercia region, with a further 20 sites planned for the next financial year.

Two provisional sites are being considered within Worcester - one in Tybridge Street, St John's and one in London Road,

For the time being, the new Lastec system will be restricted to operate alongside the existing Autovision set-up employed by the agency, so it can be properly evaluated.

The new equipment will be able to record the time, date, location and the speed of the car.

It is hoped Lastec will replace Autovision technology, which costs thousands of pounds because sensors need to be dug into the road surface.

Despite the price tag, Home Office-approved Lastec system is mobile and more flexible.

"This new equipment can either be operated from within the Partnership's highly conspicuous vehicles, or externally on a tripod," said Mr McAvoy.

"It offers far greater flexibility and will therefore be more effective than the older Autovision system currently in use."

The system will be used on its own at Welland, near Upton-upon-Severn, after testing is finished.