SPEEDING motorists caught travelling at more than 50mph in a 30mph zone were among more than 70 drivers snared in a police clampdown.

Those stopped by officers in the Pennine police initiative in Manchester Road, Burnley, could now face fines or licence penalty points.

On Monday a motorist was logged overtaking vehicles in Briercliffe Road near to Lanehead School at 51mph.

The clampdown has prompted criticism from some drivers, angry that police are fining people who are only marginally over the speed limit. Pennine Police have defended their action.

Supt Russ Gregory, of the Road Policing Unit at Colne, said: "There are no set quotas. Officers are just going out and seeing what speed people are driving at.

"There is criteria set by Lancashire County Council for the roads which we are checking, both for the mobile sites and the fixed speed cameras and these look at accident statistics for the last five years."

He said roads in Burnley were being monitored this week, including Manchester Road and Briercliffe Road, but the mobile camera would not be on roads where it could potentially cause a hazard.

Sgt Gregory said: "We have taken delivery of a new, purpose-built vehicle fitted with a camera, funded by money from central Government. Pennine Division is among areas chosen for a pilot scheme.

"Besides targeting any roads which have been identified by the large number of casualties and number of crash sites which are 30mph, we will also be checking others including 40mph and 50mph."

He said the speed checks started in Rossendale because there had been a large increase last year in the number of road deaths in the area.

But he warned motorists just because the police have been on a stretch of road did not mean they would not return with the camera.

He added: "The message simply is don't exceed the speed limit."