Cunning motorists in Harrogate have attempted to avoid a possible fine for posting the location of mobile police speeding vans on social media by using coded birdwatching terminology.

The Harrogate Road Watch group on Facebook has over 3,000 members who post up-to-date locations of North Yorkshire Police's mobile safety camera vans in an attempt to warn other motorists of their presence.

Earlier this month, news articles circulated online that said drivers who post updates on social media warning other road users of police "speed traps" could face fines of up to £1,000.

It said this is because there is a law that states it's an offence to "wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty”.

This prompted members of the Harrogate group to get creative. Members have recently referred to the police speeding units as "great tits" with "beaks pointing towards the A1".

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Another said:

One member warned of a bird of prey.

North Yorkshire Police publishes details of every location mobile safety camera vehicles visit, when they attended and for how long. It also includes a breakdown of every offence recorded at each location and how each offence was dealt with.

A spokesman for NYP said he would not comment on how people use social media but said sharing information about where mobile speed cameras are does not present any issues for the force.