Residents in Moulton complained to their Safer Community Team (SCT) and parish council that the 20mph limit through the village was rarely adhered to, and as a result officers plan to take to the streets with a hand-held speed camera.

Clerk to the council, Jane Austin, said a survey carried out by the police and the council discovered one main road had more than 47,000 vehicles passing through the village every week.

She said: "I think we were surprised by the sheer volume of traffic. Moulton is unique because we have a large agricultural college, a secondary school and a primary school, which all add to the numbers.

"We do have a very proactive SCT and speeding is a priority, so we hope handing out leaflets will provide the education against speeding in the first instance, and then we will use enforcement if that doesn't work. It should send a strong message."

Sgt Mike Grady, of the Daventry rural SCT, said: "The main locally identified priority for the village is speeding.

"In response to villagers' concerns we have had surveys conducted in numerous locations across the village and have identified that the 20mph limit is blatantly breached in most locations.

"Extensive work and campaigning has taken place, in partnership with Moulton Parish Council, and we have succeeded in having the road markings relaid and the 20mph signs moved to make them more visible.

"In the survey, 80 per cent of people were found to be breaking the speed limit. We hope this operation will curb the problem and improve quality of life for residents in the busy village."

About 7,000 leaflets have been produced to be distributed to drivers in Moulton, and anyone caught speeding could face a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

The crackdown will begin on Monday, May 19 in and around hotspots including West Street and Northampton Lane North.