COUNTY Durham traffic police have launched a month-long crackdown on speeding drivers at known hot spots.

Crews are taking the force's mobile speed cameras to problem areas including major routes such as the A690 at West Rainton, near Durham City and the A67 at Darlington.

Since the cameras were introduced three years ago police say speeds have fallen in some places and the number of accidents reduced.

Between 1997 and last year accidents dropped from 12 to four on the A694 at Hamsterley, near Consett, and the toll on the A167 at Durham City and Darlington was halved.

The number of cars breaking the 30mph limit on the A67 at Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, fell by almost 20 per cent.

Head of traffic, Superintendent Barry Peart said: "In a sense we hope to be unsuccessful in catching people speeding.

"But in reality we know some drivers go well above the speed limit and the bottom line is that excess speed is a huge contributory factor in causing deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

"These campaigns are not about issuing as many fixed penalty tickets as possible.

"Our intention has always been to concentrate on education, not prosecution.

"We think these campaigns have a long-term effect in persuading motorists to drive more carefully.''

The targeted roads are:

Derwentside: B6310 Burnopfield; A691 Durham Road and Cutlers Hall Road. Consett; A692 Dipton; B6301 Cornsay Colliery; A693 Chester Road, East Stanley; A694 Ebchester to Hamsterley and B6168 New Kyo to Flint Hill.

Durham and Chester-le-Street: Crime Rigg Bank, Shadforth; The Orbital, Chester-le-Street; B6312/ B6532 Sacriston; A690 West Rainton; A167 Toll House Road, Durham, and North Lodge, Chester-le-Street; Finchale Road, Durham.