A NORTH Yorkshire businessman who is sick of speeding drivers racing past his home has taken the law into his own hands - and created his own working speed camera.

Ray Allott, of Knaresborough, was so fed up of traffic racing along Forest Moor Road, between Knaresborough and Harrogate, that he made a portable camera, and caught 137 offenders in one day.

He plans to show the evidence to the police, and has already received inquiries from two schools and a local authority about similar devices.

But police chiefs believe such cameras could be breaking the law if they are left obstructing the highway, and warn that improving road safety is more complicated than simply using cameras.

Mr Allott, 38, said the photographs could not be used in court unless he applied for Home Office certification, which he was considering.

The camera - which looks just like the real thing - is portable and trailer-mounted, so it can be moved if people become accustomed to seeing it in one place.

The device contains an adjustable sensor, which detects vehicles travelling over the 40mph speed limit and takes a picture.

Mr Allott said: "Motorbikes race past here at 80mph and it makes me so angry that people can be so blase about it.

"The box part of the camera is quite straightforward to make, but the electrics are a little more complicated. A lot of it is just common sense.

"Even a dummy camera is enough to slow them down."

One of Mr Allott's dummy cameras on a trailer would cost about £1,600, but if people wanted a real camera and flash, they would need to pay between £6,000 and £7,000.

Sgt Nigel Atkinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Obviously, speed detection devices are strictly regulated by the Home Office and require approval by the Secretary of State before any information gathered by them can be tendered as evidence.

"In addition, I note they are mounted on trailers, which means they will fall under the Road Traffic Act and as such, legally, the placing of them on any land forming a public highway, where any obstruction is caused, could commit an offence.

"Personally I welcome anything which helps change driver behaviour and makes our roads safer.

"Sadly, the answer is not always as easy as wheeling out a speed camera."

The cameras can be viewed on www.speedcamera.biz

Updated: 09:50 Tuesday, September 14, 2004