Police are hunting a motorist who decided to get his or her own back by trying to set fire to a safety camera.

The angry criminal took issue with the yellow Gatso camera in London Road, Vange, placing a tyre at its base before setting fire to it.

A Basildon fire station spokesman said: "The tyre was on fire but the camera did not catch light. It was smoke-logged but it was not damaged."

Police said the camera was put temporarily out of action. Essex Safety Camera Partnership liaison officer Kelly Fairweather warned other motorists against doing the same thing.

She said: "This is a dangerous thing to do. These things are there to try and reduce the number of accidents and increase safety on the roads."

Published Monday May 31, 2004

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