SPEEDING motorists in Rossendale are to brought into line this month with the installation of five new safety cameras.

They are to be placed in crash hotspots throughout the valley in a bid to catch out speed-worshippers.

In the last year in Rossendale there have been 80 accidents with 16 people killed or seriously injured.

The cameras aim to reduce crash numbers and protect road users by making people drive more slowly while also helping to cut the £370 million bill which is caused by road traffic accidents in Lancashire each year.

Sergeant Gregory Russell from the traffic office said: "It is has been proved that the cameras positively help reduce the number of accidents in the area.

"According to figures we have at headquarters they show that the number of people going through cameras and being caught speeding has significantly reduced.

"This is good news because it is impacting on accident numbers and preventing serious incidents that are caused by speeding motorists.

"People know that these speed cameras are around so they are driving slower, but people who continue to speed have to face the fact that they will be caught by other means including mobile speed units."

In Rossendale there are currently three fixed speed camera sites at A671 Market Street, Shawforth near Moss Side Street, A671 Newchurch Road near School Street, Stacksteads, A682 Burnley Road, near Rockliffe Street, Rawtenstall and currently a mobile camera site was introduced at A681 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads.

Five new cameras are to be activated this month at A681 Newchurch Road near David Street, Stacksteads, A680 Manchester Road near Rifle Street, Haslingden, A671 Haslingden Road near Bar Terrace, Whitworth, A681 Market Street, north of Tong Lane, Whitworth.

Police chiefs also announced last week that they are to catch drivers beating the cameras by using mobile cameras within a 500 yard radius at 74-well-known East Lancashire traps.

With the introduction of the speed cameras figures show that the number of deaths between April and July 2001 and the same period this year fell by one third from 24 to 16.