Speed cameras monitoring motorways in and around Glasgow have raised more than a quarter of a million pounds in fines in just six months.

New figures show that 2,878 Fixed Penalty Notices were doled out to drivers who exceeded a temporary 50mph speed limit imposed on parts of the M8, M73 and M74 between July and December last year.

Drivers who accept guilt are fined £100, meaning the UK government could have coined in as much as £287,800 since the cameras went live.

A £500 million upgrade of the M8, M73, and M74 began in February 2014 and is scheduled for completion by spring 2017.

It is hoped the project will reduce congestion across central Scotland’s motorway network and take almost 20 minutes off the daily commute between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Average speed cameras were installed when the project began but were not switched on until July 20 last year.

Although 2,878 fines have been handed out, statistics reveal that the number of drivers caught speeding is falling.

Figures obtained by the Evening Times shows a 66% drop in Fixed Penalty Notices issued.

Between July and September last year there were 2,156 fines issues, compared to 722 in the last three months of 2015.

The statistics also show that number of offenders reported to the Procurator Fiscal - either in place of a fixed penalty because they were driving at excessive speed, or because the fixed penalty has not been paid – also fell, from 663 between July and September to only 86 in the final three months of the year.

Inspector Darren Faulds from the Road Policing Department said: “The level of compliance with the speed limit is encouraging, however, there are still too many drivers who are putting the lives of road workers, other road users and themselves at risk by ignoring the speed limit.

“The temporary speed limit is in force through the roadworks primarily to protect the workforce and road users by reducing speed, thus giving drivers more time to react. We remind motorists to be vigilant and observe the speed limit.”

A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: “Safety is a key priority and the excellent levels of speed limit compliance - over 99.9% to date - show the safety camera system is delivering its aims in contributing to road worker and driver safety, while improving traffic flow.

“We want to see safe and responsible road use which would mean no fines being generated at all.”

The spokeswoman added: “All revenue from fines are returned to the UK Treasury.”