Highways officials have been warned not to use drivers as a "cash cow" after nearly £300,000 in speeding fines were issued in four months.

The demand is from MP Charlie Elphicke after he found that almost 3,000 people were fined £100 for speeding in M20 roadworks areas at Ashford and Maidstone.

And more than 1,200 of those were penalised while driving at night, when there is little traffic and no roadworkers.

Dover MP Mr Elphicke said: “It’s important that Highways England keeps a strict deadline, finishes these works on time, and ensures motorists are not treated like a cash cow.

”Drivers are already paying a high price having to crawl through miles and miles of roadworks..

“Now they are finding out that people have been hit with fines while driving at night – when there is no work taking place.

“It’s no wonder they feel like they are being taken for a ride.

“Highways England needs hurry up and finish these roadworks. And the government needs to do the right thing – spend the funds raised through fines on improving Kent’s roads and fixing the potholes that blight our county.”

The roadworks, part of a plan to upgrade the M20 with a new junction and smart motorway, began in mid-May in Ashford and early July in Maidstone

The speed cameras enforcing a 50mph limit are on 24 hours a day.

But a Freedom of Information request by Mr Elphicke revealed a third of the 2,969 fines, adding up to £124,200, were handed out overnight between 8pm to 6pm.

They were imposed from May to September between Junctions 9 and 11 and from July to September between Junctions 3 and 5. These were for both directions.

Mr Elphicke stressed that at the present rate the penalties. would add up to £909,306 in a year and has raised the issue with Highways England.

Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK motoring campaign group, said: “Speeding is wrong, but so is maintaining punitive speed limits when they are unwarranted.

“FairFuelUK supporters believe these prolonged limits when roadworks are safe to drive legally quicker, are nothing less than pure sources of extra revenue for the authorities.

“And where do these fines go, to repair potholes? I doubt it!”.

A total 2,505 fines were imposed between Junctions 9 and 11, the northeastern Ashford and Hythe turnoffs, from May 14 to September 13.

A total 1.604 happened during the day, from 6am to 8pm, and 901 occurred overnight, from 8.01pm to 5.59am.

A total 454 speeding fines were dished out between Junctions 3, for the M26, and 5, at Aylesford, from July 1 to September 13.

Of these, 123 offences were from 6am to 8pm and 341 overnight.

All these roadworks are expected to end within the first half of 2020.

Highways England says it makes no money from the fines - it just wants to protect workers as well as motorists.

A spokesman said: “Road workers face one of the most hazardous working environments in the country and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep them safe.

" Reduced speed limits through roadworks also protect drivers, where narrow lanes and frequently changing road layouts affect safe speeds.

"Highways England receives no revenue from speed cameras – our sole interest is in encouraging drivers to stick to the speed limit and keeping our roadworks safe.

"We met with Mr Elphick last week and are responding to him in detail on the points we discussed.”

Mr Elphick commented: “Of course it’s important that people drive safely and workers are protected.

“Yet at the current rate 26 people are caught every day, costing motorists nearly £1 million every year.

The speeds limits are in place from Junctions 3 to 5 for the smart motorway scheme.

This is a £92 million project to widen the carriageways to provide extra lanes, which will replace the hard shoulders.

Junctions 9 to 11 have speed restrictions for the construction of Junction 10a at southeastern Ashford.

There are currently 24-hour lane closures and 50mph speed restrictions in both directions, enforced by speed cameras. All this will remain in place until January 2020.