HUNDREDS of motorists have dodged speeding tickets in areas covered by a controversial safety camera system.

Police chiefs suspended enforcing speed limits on some roads three weeks ago, after they became aware of a legal challenge to signs beside the A171 in East Cleveland.

Cleveland Police learned that two officers from the neighbouring North Yorkshire force were trying to escape prosecution by proving the signs on the A171 were unlawful, or non-prescribed.

PCs David Burlingham and Andrew McFarlane successfully argued that a black border around a joint speed limit camera warning sign had not been prescribed by the Department for Transport.

It is thought there could be as many as 100 across the Cleveland Police area, which now need to be changed to meet strict guidelines.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council expected to have completed a programme to replace 16 on the A171 between Waterfall Farm and Kirk Brown, near Guisborough, by earlier this week.

Mick Bennett, of the Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership, said: "We suspended enforcement on sites where we thought there would be a problem."

Acting Assistant Chief Constable John Burke said the collapse of last week's court case was embarrassing and doubly disappointing because the defendants were serving police officers. "I want to be at pains to show it was not double standards," he said. "I'm extremely disappointed - what we have here is a legal technicality."

It is not known how many similar cases could be challenged, but Mr Bennett urged people to reconsider before launching a fight.

"People have to search their souls," he said. "They should ask 'Was I speeding on that day?' No one has been deceived or misled by any of the signs."

There are 40 sites covered by speed cameras in the Cleveland Police area, 12 of which are in Redcar and Cleveland.