Drivers in the Wantage area are being warned to slow down, or risk being caught by a hi-tech device.

Wantage Police have unveiled their latest weapon in the fight against speeding - a state-of-the-art laser gun. Officers have already been trained in the use of the LTI 20.20 Ultra-lyte Speedscope, and have launched a crackdown on motorists flaunting 30 mph speed restrictions.

Town and parish councils in the Wantage and Faringdon areas have contributed £600 to part-fund the £3,000 device.

Speed enforcement has been the responsibility of the Abingdon-based police traffic section. However, as the Speedscope belongs to the Wantage and Faringdon sector, it allows greater flexibility and more roadside patrols. Unlike conventional hand-held speed enforcement equipment, the device is also capable of measuring the speed of vehicles driving away from the officer operating the laser gun.

Speeding checks, using the Speedscope, have already been mounted on late-night weekend traffic. Among the first motorists to be issued with fixed penalties, were two drivers who had been speeding along Chainhill Road.

Wantage area beat officer Pc Tony Leach said: "It has already proved successful with fixed penalty tickets issued to two drivers doing well over the speed limit.

"We have proved there is a problem with people driving in and around the town at excessive speed, especially late at night and at weekends, where pedestrians may be under the influence of drink.

"If someone is hit by a car doing over 50 mph, they will be killed.

"Having this equipment means we don't have to rely on the traffic department to come over here if we have a problem. We can now do it ourselves, seven days a week.

"We don't want cars racing around at night, and hopefully this will encourage people to abide by the speed limit."

The Mayor of Wantage Jenny Hannaby said: "We support the police's efforts in reducing car accidents caused by speeding in and around the town. This will undoubtedly reduce speeding and consequently save lives."

Wantage Police's crackdown on late night speeding follows a warning by the RAC about the dangers of "tippling and toddling".

According to research, half of all adult pedestrians killed on the road each year had been drinking, and more than a third had an alcohol level over the legal limit for driving.