Last West Midlands fixed speed cameras switched off

It is estimated it would cost £580,000 per year to use upgraded camera technology

There are no fixed speed cameras working in the West Midlands from Monday, pending a decision on whether to upgrade to digital technology.

The police, who operate the cameras in Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull and Coventry, are using mobile speed cameras instead.

All 304 of the region's speed cameras are now switched off in a move expected to save about £1m a year.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has criticised the decision.

Kevin Clinton, from the society, said: "All local authorities and police services are under pressure to make cuts and save money but RoSPA believes that cameras should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed."

Tom Ansell from West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board said: "They [the police] have decided they'll go for mobile enforcement and they believe they'll catch more motorists that way.

"The fact that they're mobile means they can get onto roads where we don't necessarily have speed cameras in place."