THERE was a rocketing 15.4 per cent rise in the number of speed camera fines in Gwent last year, new figures show.

And the area's speeding motorists paid almost £2.5 million in fines after being caught on camera.

Fixed penalty fines in the Gwent police force area went up by 15.4 per cent last year, with drivers paying out a total of £2,494,620, compared to £2,160,540 in 2004.

The total does not include cases that reached court.

Figures also show that the number of mobile camera sites increased by almost 50 per cent, from 108 in 2004 to 159 last year.

But manager of the Mid and South Wales Safety Partnership, Phil Davies, said a recent four-year report into the effectiveness of safety cameras across the UK revealed Gwent's camera sites are having an affect.

In that time there was a 74.5 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites in Gwent - the highest change in the UK.

And road deaths in Gwent are down from 36 in 2004 to 29 in 2005. Mr Davies added: "This shows that safety cameras are working across the country with hundreds of people alive today who would otherwise be dead."

Despite the increase in mobile camera sites, the number of fixed sites in Gwent remains at 11.

There are also three cameras situated at traffic lights in Gwent. Drivers caught on camera are issued a £60 fixed penalty fine and three points are added to their licence.

Mr Davies said the partnership did not make a profit from speeding fines and could only apply to HM Treasury to have operating costs reimbursed.

"All the funding we receive is invested into educating motorists about the dangers of speeding and jumping red lights, as well as running the scheme," he said.

"By ensuring all our cameras are clearly signed and visible and by publishing the locations on our website and in the media each week, we feel we are doing everything we can do to help motorists avoid a ticket and more importantly reduce their chances of being involved in a collision."

The AA Trust's head of road safety, Andrew Howard said the trust welcomed the use of speed cameras.

"Sixty-nine per cent of motorists agree with road camera sites," he said.

"What we do say is they should be conspicuous and that the emphasis should be on stopping speeding, not catching people out."