Keighley Town Council could soon splash out almost £3,000 to buy a radar speed gun for local police.

Watch Committee members voted unanimously earlier this month to fund the scheme devised by police fundraiser Inspector Tony Walker.

Under the proposals, which are yet to be given the go ahead by police chief Graham Sunderland, police would be provided with two LS100 Ultralyte Radar Speed Guns at a cost of £2,800 each, to operate in the area covered by the Keighley Division.

Keighley Town Council has already agreed to pay for one of the machines and Insp Walker is hoping to secure funding for a second through the Keighley and Shipley Crime Partnership in conjunction with Ilkley Parish Council.

If the plan, which would be operated by volunteers, is approved, people around the district could soon see 'Community Speed Watch Area' signs marking out target areas, spring up on roads across the Keighley Division.

Community Speed Watch Volunteers could be teamed with Special Constables who could also access the Police's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) computer to target other motoring offences.

Each time a motorist is caught speeding a letter would be sent to their address informing them that they had been caught.

Persistent offenders would receive a visit from a police officer, accompanied by points and a speeding fine

Insp Walker said: "It would be a case of three strikes and you're out.

"The volunteers would have nothing to do with the drivers. They are not officers of the law, just our eyes and ears.

"This is about working in partnership with the community.

"We are waiting for approval and have still got to do a risk assessment. There are implications health and safety-wise, so we are doing it very slowly."