Firefighters were called out to Bennetts Bank, Wellington, on Saturday night, after reports of sparks coming from the camera following an attempt to topple it with a power saw.

The Gatso camera is thought to be the only one in Shropshire, and Councillor Gary Davies, a former mayor of Wellington, said the camera - which provides video evidence of speeders - was helping to save lives.

Speed cameras across Shropshire are controlled by The Safety Camera Partnership in West Mercia.

It was making a big difference and it was helping to save lives, and these people have put that in jeopardy Councillor Gary Davies

The group says that over the last three years more than 240 people have been killed or seriously injured, and more than 540 slightly injured as a result of accidents caused by speed in the county.

Councillor Davies said: "The camera was making a 100% difference. You could see the difference in speed.

"It was making a big difference and it was helping to save lives, and these people have put that in jeopardy.

"That is bad for the town and bad for society."

Speed cameras have been targeted across the country by vandals.