A South London council has become the first in the country to set up speed cameras to fine drivers breaking 20mph speed limits.

Wandsworth Council has launched the landmark scheme which will see the authority dish out £130 fines to motorists breaking the rules on two of the borough's busiest roads.

The trial scheme will initially last for eight months on Wimbledon Park Lane and Priory Lane. The move could be made permanent and extended to other roads in Wandsworth and rolled out across the capital if successful.

Drivers caught breaking the 20mph speed limit will face up to £130 fines which will be slashed to £65 if the fixed penalty charge is paid in 14 days.

Met Police have, until now, fined London drivers for breaking speed limits but the council decided to step in after revealing most of the complaints it receives are about motorists breaching the rules on quieter residential streets. The local authority added that the police tend to concentrate on main roads and dual carriageways.

Under the pilot, drivers caught by the council also won't have points added to their licence or be made to go to a speed awareness course.

A fresh traffic survey by the council indicated 52per cent of vehicles exceed 20mph on Wimbledon Park Road.

A statement on the council's website said: "Since the introduction of a borough-wide 20mph speed limit, we regularly receive residents' feedback concerning speeding vehicles, therefore we are taking a proactive approach through this enforcement pilot to encourage speed compliance and ultimately road safety."