POLICE today pledged to let drivers know the locations of hundreds of new speed cameras due to be placed throughout the county as part of a road safety crackdown.

And it was revealed that all fixed penalty tickets issued from cameras in Lancashire will be dealt with at a new office on Ewood Business Park, Blackburn.

The Ministry of Transport has warned police forces in England and Wales that if they want to increase the number of speed cameras on their roads, they must site them only in areas where there is a "proven problem".

Any new cameras on the county's roads will have to be clearly signed and highly visible to motorists.

Cameras are not to be installed merely for the purpose of "political or revenue-generating purposes".

The announcement came after Lancashire police revealed they are to increase the number of speed cameras in the county from 69 to 320.

Minister for Transport John Spellar said: "Safety cameras are playing a significant role in preventing accidents and loss of life.

"They are there to change driver behaviour, not to catch motorists and raise revenues."

A survey will have to be conducted in advance to ensure they are needed.

Their locations must be revealed in local newspapers, on local radio and on websites.

The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, launched yesterday will use the revenue from the new cameras to tackle speeding, non-wearing of seat belts and drink driving.

The county is one of four new areas to introduce the scheme following the success of trials in eight other parts of the country.

By doing so they hope to save the taxpayer £9.6 million.

Steve Hartley, Detective Chief Inspector for Eastern Division said: "We will be taking every opportunity to publish details of any new cameras.

They will be highly visible and signed -- as they are already." Lancashire's Chief Constable Pauline Clare said: "We welcome this casualty reduction initiative, which will undoubtedly make the roads of Lancashire safer for all users.

"The enforcement will in no way impact on the constabulary's commitment to reducing crime and disorder throughout the county."

Lancashire Police have revealed that all fixed penalty tickets for the county will be processed at a new office on Ewood Business Park.

Clare Dean, of the AA, welcomed the news that new cameras would be made highly visible. S

he said: "Speed is still one of the biggest killers on our roads so it is good to know that something is being done to tackle the problem.

"We think that over the past few months there has been public dissent for the cameras because people think that it has become a money-making issue rather than a safety issue.

"The only way that speed cameras can make people drive more safely is if they know where the cameras are."