A SPEED camera in Worcester city centre is giving accurate readings, according to a long-awaited report from manufacturers and police.

The device, in City Walls Road, hit the headlines in October when your Worcester News revealed that Peter Collier had won a 13-month court battle to get his speeding case dropped.

The 63-year-old was allegedly caught doing 35mph on the road, which has a 30mph limit, but his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service after he questioned the accuracy of the device, because it was placed on a bend in the road and opposite metal railings.

However, a report from Gatsometer, the firm which manufactures the cameras in Holland, states that although the curve in the road could have altered the reading of the speed Mr Collier's vehicle was travelling at in August 2006, it would have been of "minimal influence on the accuracy of the speed" and confirmed it was correct.

In addition, a report by Trevor Hall, national safety camera co-ordinator and managing director of Road Safety Support said the camera has been installed in accordance with Home Office approval.

Trevor McAvoy, of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, said: "There has never been any question of any doubt over the accuracy of the equipment. If we had this information in time, the case would have proceeded to trial and it's inconceivable that the outcome would have been anything other than a conviction. It's very unfortunate from a road safety perspective that it didn't."

He said the CPS discontinued the case because of the delay in getting the report from Gatsometer concerning the bend in the road, something he recommended because he said it would have been "unfair" to have kept Mr Collier hanging on for the report to arrive.

Mr Collier, of Whitehall Lane, Birlingham, near Per-shore, declined to comment.