DRIVERS have been told to "stop complaining and talk to the families of speeding victims" after an irate driver unsuccessfully appealed aga-inst a fine in Worcester.

Derek Baddeley was so incensed at getting a fixed penalty for speeding on New Road that he appealed at Worcester Magistrates Court.

He claimed the speed camera was obscured and said this was contrary to guidelines set down for installation of the devices.

However, his appeal was rejected by the court.

His stance follows consistent complaints to the Worcester News by readers about what is seen as a camera situated purely for financial gain on New Road.

Now the man responsible for cameras in Worcestershire Trevor McAvoy, project manager for the West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership, has come out fighting, saying people should stick to the rules and stop whingeing.

He said. "It's complete nonsense. People should stop complaining and talk to the families of speeding victims. See what they think."

Mr McAvoy denied that the camera was put in place solely to boost Government coffers.

He said statistics bore out the need for the camera, with a report earlier this month showing that deaths and injuries dropped where cameras had been installed.

He said of New Road: "In 1999 to 2001 there were 18 collisions, with four involving death or serious injury. People forget very quickly."

"The public has to change its attitude to speeding and this will take time."

Malvern man Mr Baddeley had hoped to overturn his conviction from last summer on the grounds that the camera and flashing warning sign were obscured by shrubbery when he was caught travelling at 36mph.

He faced magistrates last week citing Department for Transport rules in the hope of cleansing his licence. If successful it could have opened the floodgates to thousands of similar fines being overturned.

Mr Baddeley said he had not seen the warning signs as he was turning from Hylton Road into New Road and he had to accelerate to cross the traffic to be in the correct lane for Malvern.

He said: "Department for Transport rules say camera and speed limit signs must not be obscured but be positioned to be clearly visible."

Despite his argument, and his use of photographic evidence, his points and fine stood.