A DISABLED widow is close to losing her driving licence after being caught three times by speed cameras, although she says she never exceeded 35mph.

Suzette Birch, from Welland, near Malvern, thinks it is unfair that otherwise law-abiding motorists are being so heavily punished for driving their vehicles just above the legal limit.

Twice this summer, she has been caught by a mobile speed camera in a 30mph zone in Drake Street, Welland.

This week, she was furious when another ticket arrived, stating she had been driving 35mph in a 30mph zone in Evesham on Monday, September 18.

"It's so ridiculous. I'm all for the law and I like things right but they're like the clampers now. They're taking the mick," she said. "They're not getting the real people who are speeding, they're just getting the locals. That's what they do. There's quite a few people who've been done around here."

With each incident punished with a £60 fine and three points, she now has a total of nine points on her licence. Another slip-up and three points could disqualify her from driving. Life without a car would be unbearable for former nurse Mrs Birch, who is registered disabled. Her bad back, Crohn's disease and diabetes mean she cannot walk far.

She has a Motability car to help her get around as part of her Government disability allowance.

"I'd be lost without the car. It would make me housebound because there's no buses," she said. West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership put up speed cameras in Welland last year, initially in Drake Street and Gloucester Road and then in Marlbank Road.

Fears over speeding in the village led to the Friends of Welland and Little Malvern funding a vehicle-activated warning sign, also in Gloucester Road. The Drake Street camera is placed near Welland Parish Council chairman Roger Cousins' farm. "It's certainly slowed up traffic. If it's done that, then it was the right decision, but I do feel sorry for people who have been passing it at low speeds and got caught," he said.

According to Mr Cousins, speed enforcement should take place at 6am in the morning, when he has seen drivers pass the camera site at 60mph or 70mph.

Richard Fowler, Safety Camera Partnership operations manager, said the speeds Mrs Birch was quoting were incorrect in two out of the three instances.

"She was substantially over the limit," he added.

He said people do not receive speeding tickets unless they are driving at the speed limit plus 10 per cent plus 2mph.

In the case of a 30mph zone, equipment is set so that no one driving at under 35 mph is speeding. Pictures and footage are checked by partnership staff and a central ticket office before any tickets are issued.

Mr Fowler said he would happily meet with Mrs Birch to discuss the issue.