NORTHUMBRIA Police say they will put money raised from speed camera fines into road safety.

The force spoke out as the number of forces in the country getting money from speeding fines is increasing, prompting national debate about the use of speed cameras.

Northumbria Police are looking at the possibility of joining the scheme, but promise that any revenue generated by speed cameras or fixed-penalty tickets would be invested only in road safety.

Chief Superintendent Bob Pattison said: "At the moment, Northumbria Police get no money at all from speeding fines and no decision has been taken on whether we will take part in the scheme.

"But, if we did, every penny would be used to improve road safety."

High-profile speed cameras have been installed at 36 points through the Northumbria Police area, and two mobile cameras are available for use on stretches of road where speeding becomes a problem. There are no hidden cameras.

After a series of fatal crashes in recent years, a permanent 50mph limit was introduced on a five-mile stretch of the A1 near Stannington, west of Bedlington, in April 2000.

But drivers regularly flout the law. During a four-week period last summer, more than 1,000 motorists were clocked doing an average speed of 67mph - with 64 of them summonsed for travelling at more than 75mph and one for 95mph.