NUMBER plate recognition cameras have been placed along the A303 and on surrounding roads as part of a scheme to track vehicle movements on the traffic-choked highway.

Last summer, following the closure of the A344 at Stonehenge, there were long tailbacks on the A303 which local people said were even worse than in previous years and forced extra traffic onto country roads.

Traffic management company Atkins has placed cameras on the A303 to track car movements. The information will be used as part of a review.

Amesbury Town Council heard at its meeting on Tuesday that the cameras would next be used in July as the busy holiday season gets under way.

“The cameras will be particularly helpful in telling us what is happening at peak times,” said Cllr Fred Westmorland.

“It could mean the solutions for the A303 are not what we thought that might be. That is scary but at least we will have the latest information.”