Research by car insurance firm Admiral has revealed major differences in the number of tickets dished out depending on the driver's postcode.

In the past five years 15.5 per cent of people with an FY3 postcode, covering Layton, Staining and parts of Marton, were hit with a ticket, while just 10.4 per cent of people with an FY8 postcode, covering Lytham and St Annes, received a ticket in the same period.

But road safety chiefs have dismissed claims of a speed camera "postcode lottery".

Linda Sanderson, of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, said: "The partnership has a very open, fair and honest way of carrying out enforcement.

"But if everyone sticks to the speed limit they won't be caught on camera."

Blackpool has the highest number of speed cameras in Lancashire with 48 fixed sites.

The town's road safety officer Carol Bracegirdle said she did not believe people got more tickets depending on where they lived.

She said: "As far as Blackpool is concerned, all but three roads are 30 miles per hour or less and we would remind our residents they should keep their speed to those limits.

"Every camera is at a location where people have been killed or seriously injured."

But drivers' groups say the results nationally reflect the placement of speed cameras in different areas.

Association of British Drivers Nigel Humphries said: "Speed cameras are a complete lottery.

"They catch loads of perfectly safe drivers."