MALMESBURY police are to increase traffic patrols in the town and villages following complaints about speeding.

PC Phil Salsbury, of Malmesbury police, said residents in the Park Road area of Malmesbury, as well as Sherston and Millbourne, have complained of drivers speeding at around twice the 30mph limit.

"We will be looking to pass out tickets, take people to court as appropriate and ultimately if drivers go to court for speeding they will be disqualified," said PC Salsbury.

He said officers would be patrolling in marked, and unmarked cars, to catch out drivers.

PC Salsbury said a similar policy had been focussed on the B4042 through Brinkworth over recent months.

That section of road has a 30mph limit from the Three Crowns inn to past Shepherds Rise, about a mile.

"That has worked quite well, we have been doing it for about two or three months, and it has slowed drivers down," said PC Salsbury.

He said no accidents had happened in Malmesbury town due to speeding, but he did attribute collisions in villages like Sherston to people's reckless driving.

"What we want to do is to educate drivers rather than enforce legislation," he said.

He said Home Office figures have said it costs £1 million to deal with a fatal collision, including the police investigation, and use of other emergency services.

This number falls to £250,000 for a serious injury. "We want to make the roads safer," said PC Salsbury.