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But Paul Smith, an anti-speed camera campaigner who organised an M4 go-slow protest in April, said the speed cameras were "about making money".

He said: "What we have got with this system is cash-hungry quangos with wage bills to pay and plans to implement and they live on fine income.

"Nobody wants to see road workers injured, everyone wants to see these projects executed efficiently, sensibly and with a minimum of risk. But I wouldn't mind betting that most of the time those drivers were issued tickets, there were no road workers on the motorway."

Anyone breaking the 40mph limit risks an automatic £60 fine and three points on their licence. Of the 20,000 motorists caught by the two cameras on either side of the carriageway, 2,100 were driving at speeds high enough for them to be taken to court.

The figures were disclosed after the camera on the westbound carriageway was set on fire shortly before 1am last Wednesday. It has been replaced.