MORE than 5,600 motorists have been caught speeding through roadworks on the A303 at Solstice Park.

Of these, 293 have gone through the 40mph limit at 66mph or faster - many at speeds of more than 70 and 80mph.

These were the startling figures released last week by the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership, which claims thousands of motorists have ignored the temporary speed limit.

More worryingly, these figures were only recorded when a mobile camera unit was despatched to the area, and not by a fixed camera that would have operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"It's barely credible," said David Frampton, the partnership's safety camera unit manager.

"Nationally, one person is killed almost every week in accidents at roadworks and 78 a week are injured.

"It is great good fortune no one has been killed or injured."

The temporary speed restriction was imposed on both carriageways of the A303 at Solstice Park, formally known as Folly Bottom, when work started on the junction for the new business park in April last year.

The road safety partnership was then asked to enforce the limit with mobile cameras, especially when workmen would be close to the busy dual carriageway.

"We were asked to provide two mobile safety cameras to protect the workforce when work started," said Mr Frampton.

"Since then, the number of drivers ignoring the 40mph limits and the speeds at which many of them have been travelling has been staggering.

Most of the motorists caught speeding have been invited to pay the £60 fixed penalty notice but 293 were driving so fast that their details have been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

However, many have refused to pay or are preparing to fight their summons in court, as they say there were no signs to indicate a 40mph speed limit was in force.

The partnership strongly denies this.

"Before police officers commence a speed check, they are obliged to do a drive through in both directions to ensure the signs are there," said Mr Frampton.

"Furthermore, the Highways Agency has employed someone to look after the signs and complete a log to say they have been checked every day.

"So we shall not only produce the evidence by way of video if we are pushed, but we shall also bring out the log."