TEN of Hyndburn's 12 speed cameras are likely to be dummies, shock figures have shown.
Despite the revelation, road safety bosses said they had no plans to put more into active use - because they are too expensive.
The figures were criticised by Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, who said more cameras should have film in them if roads were to get safer.
Auto Trader magazine published the statistics, which found 84 per cent of Lancashire speed cameras did not work.
When those figures are applied to Hyndburn, only two of 12 cameras are working at any one time - but motorists do not know which ones are active.
Mr Pope said: "I think more cameras should have film in and at the very least every camera should be in use in at least once during the cycle.
"We cannot get into a situation where motorists know that most of the cameras are not working most of the time. If that happens, the system will fall in to disrepair.
"It would be unacceptable for the powers-that-be to argue that they do not have enough staff to monitor the film when they make millions of pounds in revenue from processing fines."
He added: "I have been a critic of speed cameras for quite a while because I do not believe the authorities should be making so much money out of motorists.
"But we all want people to drive safely and to stop irresponsible motorists running into elderly people or children. The cameras serve as a welcome deterrent."
Former police officer and Hyndburn councillor Adrian Shurmer, who started Driver Awareness Ltd in Accrington, said: "Drivers should be looking around them at their environment, not at their speedometers or chevrons on motorways.
"I do not condone speeding in any way, because it is dangerous, but these figures go to show how badly the system is working at the moment."
Lancashire Road Safety Partnership project manager John Davies confirmed the figures were correct.
He added: "We cannot afford to put more cameras in the boxes because they cost between £30,000 and £40,000 each, which is too expensive for us.
"At the moment, our system is working well and our figures show people are driving more slowly in areas around the cameras, which are predominately busy, urban areas.
"We will continue with the system we have but we do not rule out changing it in the long-term."
- SPEED cameras in Hyndburn are in: Blackburn Road, near Grimshaw Street, Accrington; Burnley Road, near Foster Street, Accrington; Hyndburn Road, near Riding Barn Street, Accrington; Whalley Road, near Whitaker Street, Accrington; Manchester Road, near Alliance Street, Baxenden; Manchester Road, near Pilling Avenue, Baxenden; Whalley Road, near King Street, Clayton-le-Moors; Whalley Road, near Pendle Road, Great Harwood; New Lane, near Grove Street, Oswaldtwistle; Union Road, near Moscow Mill Street, Oswaldtwistle; Hermitage Street, near Butler Street, Rishton; and Hermitage Street, near Parker Street, Rishton.
