MEMBERS of the public will be given speed guns under a police pilot scheme.

The West Mercia Community Speed Watch initiative, to be launched in the New Year, will specifically target rural areas.

Active members of the local community will be given training, handed specialist speed-monitoring equipment and positioned at selected locations.

They will record anyone speeding and report back to the police who will decide whether an area warrants a police presence or individual drivers should be targeted.

The scheme will initially start in Herefordshire, but will spread to Worcestershire if it proves successful. Repeat offenders will get two letters and could be prosecuted if they commit any more offences.

Kempsey Parish Council has already applauded the idea. All parish councils received a detailed a briefing note on the initiative inviting them to register their interest in becoming involved.

"Rural crime surveys and consultation indicate that real or perceived incidents of speeding are a major factor in preventing people from enjoying the environment that have chosen to live in," said chief inspector Shane Hancock, responsible for local policing issues.

"Community Speed Watch aims to share the responsibility for addressing speed-related offending through a partnership between the community, the police and other agencies using a problem orientated approach."

Repeat offenders will get a maximum of two letters and could be prosecuted if they commit any more offences.

The scheme was first used by Avon and Somerset Police.

"We can't be everywhere all the time," said Hereford police spokeswoman Georgie Bates.

"People in some of these villages say they have got a problem with speeding and not only will we be empowering them but they might find they don't have such a big problem with speeding when they are out there holding a speed implement."

Joy Clee, chairman of Kempsey Parish Council, said the scheme would be welcomed by villagers concerned about motorists breaking the speed limit.

"We receive a considerable amount of complaints and the speed of traffic going through the village, no doubt about that," said Mrs Clee.

"I think people in Kempsey would be prepared to do this."