SPEED camera technology was first introduced to Lancashire in 1993 -- when the police launched a handful a sites across the county.

Within four years, more than 5,000 drivers had been caught as the number of cameras gradually rose to 40.

But it wasn't until The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety was formed in 2001 that the sped camera blitz really began.

The organisation, made up of a number of partners from the local councils, justice system and police force, quickly set out its aim, of increasing that number fourfold from 70 to 320 in three years.

And the controversial partnership, based in Preston, quickly began installing the fixed camera sites across the county.

In June 2002 it was announced that 48 new cameras were to be installed, bringing the number to 117. Then in August plans were set out for another 100.

At the moment there are 213 fixed cameras, with 94 mobile locations, 74 'community concern' mobile enforcement sites and six mobile police traffic vehicles.

But by March 2004, the partnership intends to increase the total number of fixed cameras to 320.

The partnership says that the cameras are necessary, to help cut the county's accident record and that money either goes on new cameras or directly to the Treasury.

It says that in Lancashire alone, road casualties cost £370million per year, as 9,000 people are injured, 1,000 of them seriously, and 70 killed.

The partnership uses the infamous yellow Gatsometer. Two pictures are taken per offence, and road markings can be seen on the pictures to help check the evidence.

Each Gatso camera stores images on a film capable of taking 800 pictures, or 400 offences.