DRIVERS could be queuing up to get their speeding convictions scrapped.

A judge at Dorchester Crown Court ruled that the official paperwork for the speed limit at Chideock was invalid.

Now a top law firm has offered to help victims of the so-called 'A35 Seatown Road fiasco' appeal their convictions for speeding.

The potential reprieve followed lorry driver Alan Dawe's successful appeal against speeding in the 30mph area of the A35 through Chideock where there are no street lights. The court ruled that inconsistencies in the legislation designating the restricted zone meant his conviction could not be enforced.

A statutory instrument - which is required by law to designate a 30mph zone where there are no streetlights - measured the eastern end of the village where the zone runs from a Seatown Road' in the centre of Chideock, but it emerged during Mr Dawe's appeal that there was no street of that name.

Joseph Kotrie Monson, the head of motoring law at the Swinton law firm Mary Monson Solicitors, said: "I had a conversation with Paul Smith of road safety campaign Safe Speed who clarified the situation with this irregular speed camera here in Dorset.

"It quickly became clear to us that Dorset residents may have lost their licences, or even their jobs, as a result of this non-conforming camera.

"The Highways Agency documentation relating to this camera refers to 'Seatown Road', which is a local name, but does not appear on any maps, and so appears to be inaccurate.

"We are keen to help anyone who might have received a speeding conviction as a result of this camera.

"We hope to find enough people to form a class action so that nobody pays much in legal fees to appeal their points with a view to getting the points removed and fine money returned and also their legal fees refunded.

"We would also hope that an appeal will result in reduced insurance premiums for the motorists involved.

"Anyone with a conviction from a court because of this speed camera can contact us on freephone 0808 155 4870."