ARSONISTS tried to destroy a Great Sankey speed camera.

They put a tyre around the Liverpool Road camera and doused it in petrol before setting it on fire on Thursday.

Firefighters were called out at 12.53am and put the blaze out before anything more than superficial damage was caused.

The camera film inside remained intact and protected.

The camera, near The Woodlands Pub, was installed in November 2004, as part of the National Safety Camera Programme.

There had been 14 road traffic collisions at the site resulting in 27 casualties, including eight serious injuries.

Since the camera's installation, there has been one casualty.

Lisa Lafferty, spokesman for the Cheshire Safety Camera Partnership, said: "Why anyone would want to jeopardise this road safety measure is incomprehensible."

Martin Dowle, arson reduction manager for Cheshire Fire Service, said: "It cannot be stressed enough that, while attending a minor fire like this, our fire appliance would not be available to attend a more pressing emergency, such as a house fire or vehicle collision."

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.