DRIVERS on the M6 motorway have a new deterrent to speeding - 1,270 motorists have already been caught driving too fast through roadworks.

And the Highways Agency will erect a sign between junctions 27 and 28, informing motorists how many people have been caught in the temporary 50mph zone.

Project manager Roy Wood said: "We take care to plan the works as carefully as possible. Mandatory 50mph limits reflect the restrictions created by roadworks.

"We are very concerned that such a large number of motorists have been caught by the speed cameras exceeding the temporary speed limit.

"Speeding through roadworks is very dangerous, placing not only the speeding motorist at risk, but other road users and contractors working on the motorway.

"We have decided to erect this sign as a further warning and it will be regularly updated to show how many motorists have been caught by the speed cameras.

"The Highways Agency and the police are determined to clamp down on speeding motorists."

Chief Inspector Ian Bell, Lancashire's police road safety co-ordinator, added: "We are committed to reducing road casualties and clearly the installation of this sign will discourage motorists from exceeding the speed limit."

The £3.9 million works - to resurface the badly worn carriageway with a noise-reducing surface - are due to be completed by the end of June.

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