Damage to the device at Framingham Earl near Norwich, has been put at £30,000.

The camera is thought to have been damaged at around 2200 GMT on Wednesday.

Sergeant Graham Knight said: "We are taking this very seriously because it's in a built up area near a major road with a school nearby".

According to the Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership, which oversees the bright yellow speed cameras, most drivers are in favour of the cameras.

Figures from the police show the areas in which cameras have been placed have seen reductions in personal injuries of up to 50%.

The camera that was vandalised is one of nine in the county. Five others will go live next week.