THE number of motorists caught by Hampshire's new speed cameras is still being kept secret - despite a pledge by bosses that they should be public by now.

Hampshire speed camera chiefs had previously refused to release any figures for those caught speeding by the county's multi-million pound camera network - and the revenue generated by their fines.

Insisting that the figures could fluctuate from one week to the next, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partner-ship promised the information would be made public after six months once a more accurate picture had been established.

The trial period ended on October 7 - six months after 19 fixed cameras went live at accident black spots across the county.

Speed camera officials are unable to tell us how much cash has been collected from the thousands of motorists caught since April.

The Daily Echo can reveal the release of the crucial figures has now been delayed because the partnership wants to present them in a glossy leaflet, which may take weeks to produce.

Officials say graphics are being prepared for the publication, which will be given to the media and other interested parties.

The leaflet, due for completion next month, will be paid for by revenue generated from the county's speed cameras.

Today Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partner-ship came under fire for not immediately releasing information in the public interest.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA Motoring Trust, said: "We are in a world at the moment where the aims and logic on the part of the traffic enforcement is being called into question by the public.

"Over 70 per cent of the public think that traffic enforcement is now more geared to raising money than road safety.

"It's time now that we had a down to earth approach that the public will believe - a lot of the time the marketing is wrong.

"It may be snazzy, but the public needs to know that it's down to earth and where their money is going."

Southampton Tory councillor Royston Smith added: "If that's the case, surely they knew they needed to go in a glossy magazine - they must have known the date they were going to be released in the first place.

"There's no excuse for them being late. There's no excuse for figures relating to revenue and where the public money is going being late."

Julian Hewitt, public relations manager for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership, defended the proposed leaflet.

He told the Daily Echo: "We decided this was the best way of presenting the information, with some graphs and general data about what we have done.

"This is not a quick thing to do but we are working as fast as we possibly can.

"We are at the design stage at the moment.

"The leaflets are being funded out of the fines as we are allowed to reclaim expenses.

"We always have to balance the cost of what we are doing with keeping people informed. We are open and accountable and are acting professionally in producing this booklet."

The network of 19 fixed cameras supplemented 25 mobile camera routes and seven red light cameras.

Proceeds from fines go back to the Lord Chancellor's office - although some cash can be claimed back by partnerships to reinvest in their schemes.