NORTH Yorkshire Police have hit back at claims employees have been speeding through the village where their headquarters is.

Last month, villagers in Newby Wiske said staff from the headquarters were putting lives at risk by breaking the village speed limit on their way to work.

In a letter to the parish council, villagers said: "The majority of vehicles travelling at speeds way above the legal 30mph limit are driven by those people working at police headquarters, who have no concern for the quality of life or the safety of the villagers."

Sarah Jane Sanderson, Acting Inspector for Northallerton, Bedale, Thirsk and Easingwold, said officers carried out speed checks in the village and discovered that although some of its staff were breaking the law, most speeders were residents.

The checks were carried out over three weeks this month and last, from Monday to Friday, during the school run and when staff left police headquarters.

Acting Insp Sanderson said: "The checks resulted in four fixed penalty notices being issued -three to local residents and one to an employee of North Yorkshire Police.

"A further three drivers were given verbal warnings, two of whom were residents and one an employee of North Yorkshire Police.

"A speed matrix board was deployed at either end of the village between 2pm and 6pm, and results showed 500 vehicles passing the first sign, at the South Otterington end, and 85 per cent of the speed was below the speed limit of 30mph.

"We strive to maintain a good relationship with the residents of Newby Wiske and take any incidents reported seriously.

"It is evident from the results that staff at police head- quarters are adhering to the speed limits through the village.

"It is also important to say that staff working at any police establishment are not above to the law and will be treated in the same way as any other member of the public."

The results are being passed to the parish council to be discussed at its next meeting.