The civilian employee, who worked in the county's Central Processing Unit, was the highest performing mobile camera technician in the force in terms of the number of offences captured.

But after a probe was launched into his work, 545 wrongful convictions were quashed and more than £35,500 in fines paid back to motorists.

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The news comes at the end of an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into allegations the operative failed to carry out his job correctly.

Ms Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the North West, said: "This speed camera technician failed to undertake basic checks of the systems he was operating and as a result he undermined the integrity of hundreds of prosecutions.

"It would appear he was proud of his position as the top performing camera technician, but it would appear he pursued quantity at the expense of quality – and at the expense of hundreds of motorists."

The investigation found the speed camera technician had failed to correctly calibrate the mobile speed camera he was using on a number of occasions between September 2006 and May 2007.

This meant the man, who started his job in September 2006, failed to carry out proper procedures ensuring the distance measurement and alignment were correct before and after the camera was operated.

This meant it could not be guaranteed the camera had worked correctly.

Video tapes were analysed and 41 of the 435 tapes checked were found to have faults. These tapes covered locations in Blackpool and Penwortham.

Evidence

Police have not revealed the exact locations.

Despite knowing the correct checks had not been made, the operative then signed documents needed for court cases to certify the equipment had been working correctly.

A criminal prosecution file was prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service who determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the worker.

Investigating officers recommended Lancashire Police review its training of speed camera technicians and ensure regular checks are made of their work.

The force today apologised to motorists across the Fylde coast.

Supt Martyn Leveridge, of the Lancashire Police's professional standards department, said: "One of the main recommendations from this investigation was a need for a review of the training of speed camera technicians.

"A full review of the training programme has taken place, as well as the supervision and processes involved in the work of the technicians.

"There are additional provisions now in place to regularly monitor the work of camera technicians in order to prevent this happening again in the future.

"There have been lessons learnt from this investigation and the Constabulary will seek to progress areas of development so as to provide the highest quality of service to the communities of Lancashire."