MORE fixed speed cameras are needed to crack down on reckless drivers who endanger lives, a Worcestershire organisation claims.

The county's branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is calling for fixed speed cameras along approach roads to every village and town throughout the county - to stamp out speeding.

It believes West Mercia police should use a cash boost from the Government to fund the equipment.

"The highly-visible metal boxed camera seen so commonly in other counties, yet woefully missing in Worcestershire, are the single most effective way of reducing speeding," said Peter Sturgeon, CPRE Worcestershire's roads spokesman.

But the police have defended the decision to use portable speed traps, claiming they allow a crackdown on any speeding blackspots across the county, unlike fixed cameras.

"We pursue what we believe to be cost-effective and a practical approach to the reduction of casualties and improvement of road safety across West Mercia," said a force spokesman.

"It would be far too expensive and impractical to install fixed point speed cameras on the approaches to every town and village within the force area.

"We use portable cameras, which enable us to be flexible in targeting areas where collisions do occur and to make the best use of available resources.

"We're working with our partner agencies in a joint approach to ensure that under the Government's new Netting Off scheme, we'll be investing income from speed enforcement in the most effective way to reduce casualties, including the acquisition of additional cameras."

But the CPRE maintains motorists are more likely to slow down for fixed cameras.

"Their policy is wrong. Fixed speed cameras are a deterrent to the inconsiderate motorist. Speed traps do nothing except raise revenue," added Mr Sturgeon

"The Government announced its backing for the fixed speed cameras. West Mercia police need to do the same and make our streets safer."

Anyone interested in the campaign should write to Stop Speeding, Flaxen Hill House, Bishampton, near Pershore, Worcs, WR10 2LZ.