Yobs torch new A259 speed camera

The camera was located on the eastbound carriageway of the A259 Littlehampton Road at Ferring '“ the site of several serious and fatal road accidents.

It was put up on Monday but was not due to be commissioned until the end of this week and at the time of the blaze was an empty shell, without a camera inside.

Fire crews and police were called to the blaze at 1am yesterday, after a resident reported seeing a number of people with torches set fire to it.

After investigating, they found a tyre had been placed around the top of the camera housing and set alight.

The Sussex Safety Camera Partnership (SSCP) say the blaze was similar to others started by anti-speed camera vigilante groups.

Richard Andrews, from SSCP, said: "The technique used is in line with the tactics we know have been used in other areas, but instances of this kind in Sussex are very rare."

A website, run by an anti-speed camera group gives tips on how to start a speed camera fire. They boast about their "summer of madness", where they aim to "target for destruction all speed cameras in the UK".

Mr Andrews said: "People have been killed on that stretch of road and the installation of the camera was to make sure no more lives were lost, by forcing drivers to stick to the speed limit."

Tony Wood, 68, who lives in the road, said he was upset people would resort to doing this as residents had asked for the camera following several accidents.

Bill Lewis, 81, a former dentist, was killed just yards from where the camera now stands. He was hit by a car as he used the pedestrian crossing at the top of Ferring Lane, in August, 2004.

Earlier in 2004, nine-year-old C. J. Oakford was killed at the same spot as he tried to cross the dual carriageway with his brother.

Just hours before the blaze, Bill's widow, Freda, 85, said she thought the camera was a step in the right direction and praised its installation.

She said: "People don't always like these kinds of things, but if it gets them to slow down then it is a good idea."

The camera was installed on Monday after a review by the SSCP found the 700-metre stretch of road met necessary government criteria.

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the fire, or who might have seen a small, sloped, coup car acting suspiciously in the area early on Wednesday morning, to contact them.