You will soon be able to get your hands on a 'community' speed gun, the latest weapon in the war on Oxford's motorists.

Hand-held devices are to be distributed across the city, enabling neighbours to take direct action against speeding vehicles for the first time.

People will use the guns to log speeds and then note down registration numbers with information passed on to the police.

The guns, which are being purchased by Oxford City Council, will be made available later this year.

Last night the idea was welcomed by the mother of nine-year-old Ross Doyle, who was run over and killed in Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, by speeding joyriders in 2000. Those responsible have still not been caught.

Cheryl Doyle, 46, said: "This sounds like a good idea because it is needed in quite a few places.

"Living in Greater Leys we drive through the estate quite often and even now there are some who drive like lunatics, so a deterrent is needed."

Emma Dibdin, 19, who was knocked down by a speeding motorist on her way to school in Headley Way, Headington, when she was 14, said: "This sounds like a great idea because speed is a massive issue. There are lots of roads in Oxford where cars just drive ridiculously fast."

Another area where speed guns would be welcomed is in East Oxford. Father-of-two Floris van den Broecke, 62, of Hill Top Road and a member of the Divinity Road Area Residents' Association, said: "The principle of the public using speed guns is a good idea. We all know that cars speed, so the data collected must be seen as valuable information and then used by the relevant authorities."

City councillors pledged £1,000 to buy speed guns, which will be loaned via Oxford's six area committees.

Richard Bradley, joint co-ordinator of the Oxford Life Begins at 20 campaign said: "This is another weapon in the armoury and could be helpful."

Official figures show accidents involving pedestrians and cars in Oxford's residential streets are on the rise.

Dan Campsall of the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership said: "We are fully supportive of communities who want to promote the safety and welfare of their residents."

City councillor Craig Simmons, whose Green group secured funding for speed guns, said: "It will enable us to build up a battery of information to push the case for 20mph zones across the city."

Malcolm Collis, of Thames Valley Police's roads policing unit, said: "This is a way to empower residents to take action against those who speed in their neighbourhood.

"This information is fed into a Thames Valley database, which will issue a warning letter to the vehicle owner."