Kent Police is targeting speeding drivers with spot checks following a rise in road deaths.

Road patrols will be stopping and reporting motorists who breach the speed limit and will carry out breath tests on those who have committed traffic offences.

The effort will take place in areas which have been identified as having a high casualty rate in a bid to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on the county's roads and will continue until this Sunday.

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In 2015 there was an increase of five more persons killed on Kent roads than in 2014. This is against the national and regional trend which is showing a reduction.

Kent and Medway Camera Safety Partnership and Kent County Council will also support the campaign using safety camera vans. They will be working in consultation with the Speed Watch volunteers and Special Constabulary officers who will be carrying out road checks.

Road traffic injuries are the number one cause of death for young people in Europe - Anne-Marie Perry

Chief Inspector Tony Dyer, Head of the Roads Policing Unit at Kent Police said: "Kent Police is fully committed to working with our partners to underline the critical importance of controlling speed as part of road safety and casualty reduction.

"Neighbourhoods across the county list speeding as being the second most important issue for police to tackle. This campaign is part of the response.

"This campaign will help educate drivers that speeding is not acceptable and Kent Police will work with our partners to enforce the speed limit to keep the county's roads safe.

"Speeding is an issue of attitude and behaviour and if you get behind the wheel you accept certain responsibilities."

Anne-Marie Penny, Manager of the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership said: "We all use the roads as part of our everyday lives without a second thought but did you know

"that road traffic injuries are the number one cause of death for young people worldwide and they place an immense burden on hospitals and health systems?

"Speed plays a significant part in the severity of injury in road crashes and the faster you go the more difficult it is to spot the hazards and react in time to stop safely."