Vandals try to torch speed camera at junction
Wednesday 23rd February 2011, 12:31PM GMT.
Vandals have tried to torch a speed camera at one of Shropshire’s most dangerous road junctions.
Firefighters called out to the attempted arson attack said the camera at the A5 Shottaton crossroads between Shrewsbury and Oswestry had saved lives since it was installed.
And they said the fire itself could have caused a serious accident if it had caught hold.
A crew from Baschurch fire station was called out just after 9.34pm yesterday.
Crew manager Geoff Davies said firefighters found a bin at the foot of the speed camera.
He said: “Someone had poured petrol around the bin then put the remaining petrol in its container inside the bin. They had also placed a tyre around the speed camera above the bin.
“It looks as if they then set fire to the petrol on the grass. But because the grass was wet the fire burnt out before it could set fire to the bin.
“We presumed that whoever tried to set fire to it had been captured speeding by the camera. But this really is a lifesaving camera. I have noticed that the number of call outs we have had to the crossroads have reduced since the camera was installed.”
Mr Davies also condemned whoever started the fire.
Fire and police investigations were under way today to find the arsonist.
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