HURSLEY is to pioneer a new type of speed camera that could be rolled out across the county.

The trial of the SpeedSpike, which measures cars average speed, comes after city councillor Jan Warwick approached Hampshire Constabulary.

Cllr Warwick provided data showing how average speeds went up when local monitoring teams were not present.

She said: “Vehicles tend to stay within the limit when the Speed Watch team is on the roadside, only to speed up again once we have all gone home. We hope the average cameras will prove to be even more effective.”

Over one three-day period in the village, more than 1,700 cars were captured exceeding the 30mph speed limit, with 250 of those travelling over 35mph. A white van was clocked at 72mph but police were powerless to prosecute when using the volunteer's data.

Cllr Wawrick was later approached by police bosses wanting to trial the SpeedSpike in Hursley.

Although the device, produced by 3M's traffic safety systems division in Chandler's Ford, is only at pilot stage in Hursley, it could pave the way for a county-wide rollout.

The project, which started on Monday, November 19, will last for one month and coincides with Road Safety Week.

Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine, who met volunteers on Friday (November 23) to discuss the project, said: “This was a very interesting morning, and much-needed as I know how much the speed of traffic through Hursley affects villagers.”