SPEED cameras could disappear from Wiltshire’s roads after a decision to axe the county group that operates them.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Camera Safety Partnership will close in the autumn with a loss of 40 jobs.

A spokesman said a 27 per cent budget cut from the Department of Transport to local authorities and a likely withdrawal of all funding for next year has forced the move.

Chairman of the partnership Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said: “This has been a very difficult decision and one that the partners have agonised over because we are of course committed to continuing to improve road safety.

“We are providing as much support as we can to the staff involved and their families and will continue to do so. These are good people who have provided an excellent service to the public of Wiltshire.”

It is not yet clear what speed control measures will be in place once the partnership is officially dissolved, which is expected to be in October.

Police could take over responsibility for running fixed cameras or there could be increased use of community speedwatch programmes, in which police train members of the public to use a speed gun and monitor vehicles in their villages.

Mr Geenty said police will continue to enforce speed limits and promote safe driving.

He said: “Drivers should not think it is now safe for them to break the law and I want to emphasise that the police will continue to vigorously enforce speed limits across the county and promote safe driving.

“This will include the use of marked and unmarked police vehicles used by trained roads policing officers, by trained special constables and neighbourhood policing teams.

Dick Tonge, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “We understand why the police have taken this action following substantial cuts from the government and we will continue to work with and support the police to ensure people who speed on Wiltshire’s roads continue to get prosecuted.”