Nearly 700 drivers were caught speeding during the first month of a new campaign to target motorists flouting the law in the New Forest.

Police are trying to cut the number of animal accidents in the Forest by using a new infra-red camera that can photograph vehicles at night, when many of the collisions occur.

Last month 90 hours of speed enforcement was carried out in the area resulting in 680 motorists being caught on camera.

A police spokesman said the majority of the drivers would be offered a place on a speed awareness course as an alternative to prosecution.

The A337 Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst road is one of the routes where the new camera has been deployed.

A police spokesman said “This activity has targeted evening commuting times when the greatest umber of animals are injured.”

This project is a partnership between the Verderers of the New Forest, the Commoners' Defence Association and Hampshire Constabulary.

Enforcement takes place on the roads in the New Forest where people or animals have been injured or where commoners are concerned about the speed of vehicles.

Hampshire Constabulary Road Safety Sergeant Rob Heard said: “The results for October highlight the importance of this partnership approach to reducing speed in the New Forest. They show we are targeting the right areas and that people are speeding through the New Forest.

"We sincerely hope our enforcement will remind drivers of the importance of keeping within the speed limit at all times.”