POLICE chiefs said they have no choice but to reactivate Oxfordshire’s speed cameras to maintain safety on the county’s roads.

On Monday, it emerged Thames Valley Police is poised to sign a deal with County Hall to turn the cameras back on just three months after they were deactivated.

The agreement would also see the force stump up the bulk of the cash to pay for cameras in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said: “Oxfordshire County Council cabinet took the decision to withdraw their funding from the Safer Roads Partnership in July. While we understand the great financial pressures all local councils are under, we were disappointed.

“The partnership has had considerable success in reducing fatal and serious injury collisions on the roads of Thames Valley.

“We were naturally concerned that the withdrawal of Oxfordshire from the partnership may impact on the number of serious collisions.”

It is still unclear whether all 72 roadside cameras and seven ‘red light’ cameras will return or just a number of them.

Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The new way forward will involve minimal funding from county council coffers. This is very definitely not a case of money being taken from other services to pay for speed cameras.”