Seventeen of the 322 motorists checked by a village speedwatch group on one day last week were said to be “speeding excessively”.

Over five patrols during the week volunteers logged 1068 vehicles and in total 57 were speeding excessively.

Two patrols were carried out in Doddington and three in Wimblington.

The volunteers, accompanied by Cambridgeshire police’s speedwatch and accident reduction team, spent over an hour on the road recording motorists’ speed.

A spokesman for the group said their campaign today was to “further support the speedwatch volunteers and enforce the speed reduction measures being carried out county-wide this week.”

The group’s operation was part of a week-long initiative to catch speeding drivers.

Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the police with the aim of educating drivers to reduce their speeds.

A spokesman for the national community speedwatch team said: “In cases where education is blatantly ignored and evidence of repeat or excessive offences is collated (even across county borders), enforcement and prosecution follow.”

Jason Ablewhite, police and crime commissioner, said: “I am fully supportive of the enormous contribution speedwatch volunteers make in keeping our roads safer.

“The role they play in helping to reduce speeding as well as educating inconsiderate drivers to change their behaviour is hugely important.

“I am pleased to see the number of schemes increasing and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the scheme.”