SPEEDING drivers in part of North Yorkshire are more likely to find themselves caught from next week.

Richmondshire's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has purchased a pro-laser speed gun and matrix board and will take to the district's roads on Monday in an attempt to persuade motorists to kill their speed.

The unit will be sent to villages where residents have complained of persistent problems.

Manned by police community support officers and firefighters, the boards light up to illustrate the correct speed limit, prompting drivers to slow down.

A camera on the unit records vehicle speeds and, if the majority are still travelling too fast, police will return with the pro-laser gun to enforce the law.

The Sign Up To Safety project, which has the backing of North Yorkshire County Council as well as the Fire and Rescue Service, is being watched by other community safety organisations across the area and could prove the forerunner of other schemes.

Councillor Carl Les, a county councillor and member of the Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership, said: "By purchasing the matrix boards and speed gun, we are responding to residents' concerns and addressing a major problem in Richmondshire.

"The number of casualties arising from road accidents is a serious problem and we are determined to reduce it and make the roads safer for everybody."

The project will be complemented by a road safety campaign in local schools.

In addition, Richmond-based company Dambach, which supplied the matrices and speed gun for the intiative, has offered future support to the partnership at road safety events.

Partnership chairman, and Richmondshire district councillor, Lynn Miller said: "Education is the best form of enforcement and, if by targeting young children as well as their parents, we can change people's attitudes to speeding issues, we are halfway to achieving our aim."