"Kill your speed!" That was the message today at the launch of a new blitz on speeding drivers.

A mobile covert camera will monitor the county's accident blackspots in a bid to snare motorists who breach speed limits - particularly in 30 and 40mph zones.

Police chiefs promise the camera will be used somewhere in Essex every day of the year from August.

The hi-tech crimebuster has been complemented by a new speed camera office in Billericay High Street, set up to process the fines of drivers.

The two-pronged police and county council initiative is part of a drive to make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.

One third of all accidents are caused by motorists breaking the speed limit.

County councillor Ray Howard, chairman of the county's transportation and highways committee, said: "Fixed cameras are used at accident blackspots, while mobile cameras will be used to complement their effect at locations where local people believe there is a speeding problem.

"Boroughs and districts will decide on locations for the use of mobile cameras through consultation with local people."

County chiefs also announced plans to pay street canvassers £6 an hour to publicise the campaign.

Mr Howard said: "Speeding is simply unacceptable. It causes injury and death, as well as misery for the friends and families of those involved in road accidents."

Putting the brakes on speeding drivers - councillor Ray Howard, centre, with Chief Constable David Stevens, left, and PC Trevor Hall, camera enforcement manager

Picture: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.