ON Thursday people living in Hartlepool will find out how speed cameras are helping to reduce injuries and deaths on the town's roads.

A consultative forum meeting will be held at Owton Manor Community Centre, Wynyard Road, where residents will be given a presentation and given the opportunity to ask questions about the campaign.

Throughout Cleveland, in the first two years of operation, it is claimed speed cameras have contributed to a reduction of 44 per cent in the number of minor accidents, and a reduction of 17 per cent in the number of people killed or seriously injured.

However, the camera scheme has been criticised by some motorists who feel that police should be devoting resources to other types of crime.

The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Tony Groom and will start at 10am.

He said: "There have been requests from members of the public at previous meetings for more information about the speed camera project.

"As a result, we decided to invite Mick Bennett, public relations manager for the Cleveland Casualty Reduction Group, to attend one meeting which is open to all residents of the town.

"It will give him an opportunity to outline the rationale behind the project and give Hartlepool residents the chance to put questions to him."