The future of Norfolk's speed cameras could be decided within months as bosses hope to develop a self-funding enforcement scheme.

Norfolk County Council and Norfolk Police Authority are currently discussing options for the future of the county's safety camera partnership after the government pulled the plug on funding last year.

The team, based in Norwich, has been cut from 30 members of staff to 15 but Insp Ian Boggan, who is in charge of the partnership, said he is hopeful a solution can be found which will maintain a similar level of enforcement.

He said that the number of fixed camera sites was likely to stay at 22 while the number of mobile camera vans in operation in the county would fall from five to three. Work with community speed watch volunteers and speed awareness messaging systems would continue under the proposal.

While the scheme would need to be self-funding, any proceeds from fixed penalty notices would still go to the treasury. However, an expected increase in the number of people taking speed awareness courses as an alternative to points and a fine, it is hoped the scheme would break even.

Insp Boggan said: 'Analysis has proven that casualties and fatalities fall at sites where speed cameras are in operation. If the cameras were switched off, you could not expect traffic officers to carry on the same level of enforcement.

'We are looking to maintain the service at close to the level which has existed in the past.

'Under the plans there would be a drop in the number of offences we are able to process but we would expect to see more people taking courses as an alternative to points.

'As far as motorists are concerned there would still be the physical presence of the speed cameras to act as a deterrent and help reduce casualties.'

At present motorists can only take a speed awareness course once and only if they fall within a set speed threshold. This threshold has recently been increased meaning more motorists would be eligible to take the course.