Figures released by Thames Valley Police show that 85 stolen vehicles were recovered thanks to the automatic number plate recognition system.

The technology also helped police find drugs and stolen goods worth �542,000 between April 2004 and March this year.

Force chiefs said they are now to expand the system's use.

196 motorway miles

The Home Office gave the force �300,000 in April to increase the number of scanning cameras in use across the area.

More town centre CCTV systems are to be upgraded to incorporate the scanner capability.

Insp Gary Grant said: "The force area has 196 miles of motorway running through it, more than any other police force area, and also has many major arterial routes allowing criminals to travel freely and rapidly in and out of the region.

"This technology is giving us the tools we need to tackle these criminals, allowing us to identify known prolific offenders.

"The real beauty of (the technology) is that it identifies only vehicles that are suspected of being involved in criminality and is therefore an efficient means of targeting offenders."