Festival-goers hit by speed fines

Speed cameras monitored routes taking traffic to Inverness

Hundreds of speeding tickets totalling more than £18,000 in fines are to be issued for motoring offences during the weekend of a Highlands music festival.

Mobile camera units on routes to Rock Ness, near Inverness, detected about 300 drivers over the speed limit.

Last year, 500 motorists were caught, prompting a warning from the festival's organisers for revellers travelling by road to drive with care.

Those detected could have three points on their licence and be fined £60.

Postcards issued

The Northern Safety Camera Partnership, which operates speed cameras in the Highlands, said the figures represented a "significant improvement" on last year.

Postcards issued with every festival ticket included directions to the site as well as information about the speed limits for different road types.

Insp John Smith, of the partnership, said: "Our job is not about catching speeders, it's about reminding drivers of the dangers of inappropriate speed and the risks that they pose both to themselves and to other road users."

Festival organisers and police are already preparing for next year's event on the shores of Loch Ness.