Herts County Council is set to use enforcement cameras to keep motorists from straying into box junctions or sneaking through bus gates.

Four locations across the county have already been earmarked for a trial of the 'unattended enforcement cameras' for 'moving traffic contraventions'.

On Monday (November 6) the council's cabinet formally agreed the necessary policies and procedures.

At the meeting executive member for highways and transport Cllr Phil Bibby stressed that the council would be taking a 'very softly softly approach' to camera enforcement in the first instance.

And he stressed that motorists would receive a warning only for a first offence in the first six months – before they would be issued with a penalty notice.

"Once it is embedded and it works, then who knows how it will be rolled out," said Cllr Phil Bibby.

"But we will take that very carefully and use a considered approach to make sure we don't litter Hertfordshire with unwanted cameras in the wrong situation."

Cllr Bibby also stressed that camera enforcement would be 'policy-led and not financial'.

"It is clear that enforcement should be policy-led a not financial," he told the cabinet.

"And I would stress that we're not here to make money – we are here to actually get drivers to actually comply with existing policy and legislation.

"And our documents do not create any new transport  policies or strategies – but draw on our existing policies and strategies."