A DRIVER has accused the operators of a mobile speed camera on a busy Worcester road of deliberately trying to trap speeding motorists.

A mobile speed camera, organised by the Safer Roads partnership for West Mercia, was in Tybridge Street on Thursday morning.

The camera, which had a black front and yellow back, was set up on a tripod on the pavement, with two operators wearing fluorescent jackets were standing a few feet away out of sight of approaching cars.

Clint Stanaway, of Mallard Close, Lower Wick, said: “They set a trap up on the pavement and then they hide behind the Homebase wall. I just think in the middle of a recession there’s no need for sneakiness.”

He said there should be more signs highlighting the speed camera.

However, Katy Jenkins, of the Safer Roads partnership, said there were both permanent speed camera warning signs on the road and signs showing the speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

She said: “There have been a number of serious collisions on that road. It’s really for the safety of those using the retail park and Cripplegate park. We are trying to do it to reduce people’s speed and make the road safer.”

Miss Jenkins said figures between June 2005 and December 2007 showed there were 10 collisions on the road including one in which someone was killed or seriously injured and 13 casualties in total.

She also said although operators were not legally required to be visible, they were not hiding but rather standing in a place that was safe and convenient.

The mobile camera was introduced in Tybridge Street in June 2008 after research showed 40 per cent of drivers on that road were speeding.

The amount of money generated from speeding fines across the West Mercia region quadrupled from £615,680 in 1997 to £2,772,780 in 2006.

Those fines were imposed on motorists caught on camera as well as those stopped by the police, The money generated from speeding fines goes into the Treasury’s coffers and the Government then makes road safety grants to local councils.

The Safer Roads Partnership was not able to provide any more up-to-date figures.