Advertising watchdogs have ordered the withdrawal of a leaflet for radar detectors that warn motorists when they are approaching a speed trap.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the wording of the leaflet for a firm called Roadnet could encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly and break the law.

Roadnet said its cigarette-packet-sized device reduced road accidents, but the ASA said this claim was "misleading".

The company's promotional material promised an "award winning range" of detectors "to help avoid points and fines".

'Radar alert'

The advert said the radar detectors could "mean the difference between surviving the dangers of the open road or enduring a driving ban, hefty financial penalty and increased insurance premiums".

But the ASA said the advert was "likely to be seen to condone the use of detectors to break speed limits without getting caught and could therefore encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly and break the law".

Roadnet, part of the Inchrock Group based in Surrey, makes radar detectors designed to alert drivers when they are approaching a speed camera up to two miles away.

The ASA added: "The implication in the advertisement that radar detector users were safer drivers was misleading."