MORE than 1,000 speeding drivers were clocked over nine months in Hughenden, during a community check.

Community Speedwatch is a traffic monitoring scheme, which is co-ordinated by Thames Valley Police in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council.

It is run by volunteers who are trained to use detection devices to monitor speeds of vehicles travelling through their area.

They then pass details of speeding motorists to police who follow it up by sending out warning letters.

In Hughenden more than 1,000 drivers were clocked speeding between January and September.

Tony Konieczny, chairman of Hughenden Valley Residents Association, said: "Whenever I have taken part in a Speedwatch exercise on Valley Road in Hugheneden Valley, we have typically caught one speeder a minute.

"Motorists need to be made aware that this is a rural village road, with cyclists meandering in the avoidance of potholes and children and the elderly walking along narrow pavements. We take speeding seriously, for we value the welfare of our residents and vulnerable road users."

Hughenden has shown some reduction in motorists exceeding the limit this year but they can't say if it’s because of Speedwatch. There are more than 30 Speedwatch schemes running throughout the county.

Supt Gilbert Houalla, area commander for Wycombe, said: "I find this really useful and that’s why I support it. It gives the presence of enforcement. If you are driving in that area and you see the community in some form carrying out speed enforcement, then that’s going to be a deterrent."

Under the scheme, volunteers are issued with high -visibility jackets and roadside mobile signs, which must be displayed to notify motorists that they are entering a Community Speedwatch area.

Community Speedwatch can only operate in areas subject to a speed limit no greater than 40mph.

Police also use the feedback and results to decide where to place their own speed enforcement teams.

* For more information about starting a scheme contact your local Neighbourhood Police Officer via the Thames Valley Police call centre number non-emergency number: 101.

Transport for Buckinghamshire is also keen to develop the Community Speedwatch initiative further and offering a one off visit to showcase the Speedwatch equipment. For more information telephone 0845 230 2882 or e-mail tfb@buckscc.gov.uk