Residents in the Wycombe area are taking the lead in the fight against speeding after new figures revealed over 4000 drivers were caught last year in community speeding operations.

Community Speed Watch (CSW) operations around Wycombe make up 86 per cent of all the warnings sent to motorists in Buckinghamshire, police have said.

The initiative sees neighbourhoods clubbing together and using police equipment to monitor speed in the area, with those breaking the limit send a letter by police.

Habitual speeders then receive a visit by police if they are caught three times in a six month period.

And of 5,148 letters sent to drivers in 2014, Wycombe-based operations accounted for 86 per cent or 4,279 warnings.

PC Lee Turnham, of Princes Risborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, is the High Wycombe Rural Neighbourhood Teams CSW lead.

He said: "It is very positive that members of the local community are working in partnership with the police on road safety initiatives like Community Speed Watch.

"Where members of the public would previously pass comment about the speed of traffic near their homes, they now have the opportunity to become involved in a CSW scheme and make a contribution to road safety."

"The dedication of the CSW volunteers has led to a reduction in speeding in the area due to the regular visible CSW initiatives and the motor vehicle activated signs."

PC Turnham said the Hughenden Parish CSW volunteers were the biggest contributors within the entire Thames Valley Police area, with 2,380 letters being issued.

He called their efforts a "very commendable contribution to road safety in the area".

Working in partnership with police, residents monitor the speeds of vehicles using a speed indication device (SID), on roads that have a 20 mph, 30 mph or 40 mph posted speed limit.

If drivers are going above the speed limit the SID’ sign is activated and displays the vehicle’s speed or the speed limit as a warning.

The number plate is noted by volunteers and passed to police who write to motorists offering speed safety advice and reminding them to stick to the limit.

If motorists receive three letters in six months they are visited by a police officer who reinforces the need for road safety.

CSW data on the number of speeding vehicles is also used to determine the deployment of road safety camera vans.

New groups are forming all over the district, with Marlow residents among the latest to form partnerships with police.

For more information about Community Speed Watch contact PC Lee Turnham by email lee.turnham@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or via the Thames Valley Police non emergency number 101.