LANCASHIRE County Council has unveiled a new weapon in its war on speeding -- comedian Jimmy Cricket.

The welly-wearing star has agreed to endorse the speeding blitz currently being enforced across the county after being caught by one of the new speed cameras.

He was captured doing 35mph in a 30mph zone along the A671 in Shawforth, near Whitworth, and opted to attend a speed awareness course costing £90 rather than collecting three points and a £60 fine.

He had been in East Lancashire for a one-man show.

Jimmy -- whose catchphrase is 'And there's more' -- has agreed to back the new campaign with interviews and endorsements.

Anyone caught doing 35mph in a 30mph zone is entitled to go on the course rather than have a fine.

Council and police bosses hope the fact a celebrity has been caught will make people think before they speed.

Jimmy, who lives in Rochdale, said: "The Speed Awareness Course is a great idea.

"The softer approach of letting people make amends, while at the same time improving their driving skills, is a much better option. It will make the roads a lot safer for everyone.

"The tutors were friendly and informative.

"It was a bit like going to the hospital and giving blood, you're not really looking forward to it, but once you've done it there is a great sense of achievement that you've done something constructive.

"When it was pointed out that an extra 5mph makes all the difference, especially if a child runs out in front of you, it helped me to re-evaluate my attitude."

There will be 230 cameras in place by the end of September.

The speed awareness course was launched in December last year and more than 3,500 have now completed the sessions, avoiding the fine and penalty points. Every year around 3,500 people are killed on Britain's roads and 40,000 are seriously injured.

Each course, which lasts six to seven hours, involves both classroom-based activities and in-car training.

Special driving instructors are used for the course.

But the endorsement was condemned today by the Association of British Drivers.

A spokesman said: "The campaign should look at all areas of driving. The whole campaign is wrong, not matter who says it.

"The fact 3,500 people have been caught speeding and done this course and they can can go on fitting more cameras shows that the speed cameras aren't working."