Lancashire has more than 200 fixed speed cameras

The thief tied a chain or rope around the mounting of the camera on Hornby Road, Caton, near Lancaster, in the early hours of Sunday.

He or she then attached the chain to a vehicle and drove until the pole bent over.

The �55,000 camera was then wrenched from its fittings.

The theft comes a year after three cameras were sawn down in Lancaster and Morecambe.

And in January a speed camera was burnt out.

'Strength of feeling'

Lancashire Police regularly issues fixed penalty notices to drivers who are just over the speed limit.

There are more than 200 fixed cameras in the county, and last year more than 200,000 speeding tickets were issued.

The force insists the cameras are there for a good reason.

"Speed cameras are there to make roads safer, and any theft or damage to them could potentially be putting lives at risk," a spokesman said.

The AA's Claire Price said: "There's obviously a huge strength of feeling about speed cameras, particularly in Lancashire where there are more cameras than in other counties in the region.

"But it is not very helpful when people vent their rage in this way, because it could put risk the lives of other drivers."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.