Police are offering training to the public

Community volunteers known as Speed Watchers can use the devices to "clock" speeding drivers and then pass the information on to police.

Strathclyde Police and East Dunbartonshire Council have launched the Community Speedwatch pilot scheme in Milton of Campsie, on the northern outskirts of Glasgow.

A senior police officer said the aim is to offer "a local solution to a local problem".

We know that speed, and the perception of speed, causes serious community concern. Superintendent Austin Dorrian

Once information is passed on to police from Speed Watchers, officers will decide whether to issue a warning letter or prosecute.

Superintendent Austin Dorrian said: "We know that speed, and the perception of speed, causes serious community concern.

"The purpose of this programme is to address this, involve the community and make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.

"This is a good example of all agencies working together with communities to promote safety."

John Morrison, leader of East Dunbartonshire Council said: "This initiative offers us a chance to approach the problem of speeding in a different way and puts the community at the centre of helping to resolve the problems in conjunction with the police and the council."

However, the pilot scheme has been questioned by a legal expert.

'Vulnerable to attack'

Paul McBride, QC, said: "The police are professional, highly trained and impartial, lollipop men and retired people are not.

"God knows, you may have a situation where an over-zealous retired person, who has a grudge against his neighbour, clocks them for speeding and the person loses their licence and their job.

"There is a risk that you leave lollipop men and retired people vulnerable to attack just in the same way sometimes traffic wardens are attacked.

Rosemary McIlwhan, Director of the Scottish Human Rights Centre, said: "This is policing on the cheap.

"The police obviously need more resources to be able to carry out their functions.