CLOSE to 1,000 motorists were caught speeding during a week-long campaign by Suffolk police.

The crackdown snared 967 motorists between Monday, August 20 and Sunday, August 26.

The vast majority of offenders, 903, were caught by police officers on patrol, while just 64 were snared by speed cameras.

Police said there were 28 fatal collisions on Suffolk’s roads last year - speeding was identified as being a contributory factor in six.

Sergeant Paul Ward, of Suffolk police’s casualty reduction team, said: “During the campaign our officers have been working hard to highlight the issue of speeding through enforcement and education and drivers should know that there is never an excuse for flouting the speed limit. Campaigns such as this see a heightened concentration on those speeding in the county but our aim is to reduce the amount of casualties on Suffolk’s roads throughout the year and we will continue to crackdown on those who drive at excessive speed.

“Thirty people were killed on Suffolk’s roads last year and twenty in the previous year and the role speed plays in both fatal and serious road traffic collisions cannot be underestimated. The difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death. The faster someone is driving, the less time they have to stop if something unexpected happens. The message is very simple - Speed limits are there for a reason.”