Irvine’s community councillors have asked the police to provide them with their own speed gun.

At their meeting on Wednesday last week, Sgt Jason Peter invited the community councillors out to try out hand held speed cameras on Kilwinninng road to mark UN Global Road Safety week May 8 to 14.

But Secretary Bill Anderson wants to take the fight against speeding drivers further and asked if the police could let them have their own speed gun.

Bill Anderson said: “I’ve noticed on the television there’s some people who get these hand held speeding cameras, would we be allowed to get one of these?”

Sgt Jason Peter said: “Community Speedwatch is a thing that’s used throughout the UK.

“It’s members of the public volunteering to monitor speed in particular areas. They’re provided with the equipment and record the speed and record the number plates and there’s letters sent out to offenders, so I can come back to you on that.

“There are a couple of groups in Scotland. I’m not aware of any running here. I’d need to do some digging but if there’s appetite locally I can certainly ask the question.

Mr Anderson said: “Put my name on the top of the list.”

In the meantime, community councillors arranged to meet with police on Monday, May 8 to try out the two different types of speed guns used to record offenders.

The Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week seeks to increase understanding of the dangers of speed and generate action on measures to address speed, thereby saving lives on the roads.

The week will focus on speed and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries.

Speed contributes to around one-third of all fatal road traffic crashes in high-income countries, and up to half in low to middle-income countries.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative where active members of communities join with the support of the Police to monitor speeds. Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the Police.