Motorists were given a scare by a fake speed camera installed at the side of a thoroughfare. 

Drivers in Rushams Road, Horsham, first spotted the storage box which had been painted yellow to look like a speed camera last weekend.

Achu Karingattil, who lives in the town, took to Facebook to share an image of the “camera” with some other residents thinking it was real.

He told The Argus: “I posted the image in the group to get other people’s perspectives.”

Sussex Safer Roads, a government partnership, said their data shows that the road does not currently have a speed camera and the limit is 30mph.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “We do not condone the use of fake camera housings due to potential distractions they oppose.

“If there are concerns related to issues of excess speed or antisocial driving/riding then we encourage members of the public to come forward with this information.

“We have a very proactive community Speedwatch group in this area, who have been out today to encourage drivers to stick to the speed limit.

“The dedicated and passionate volunteers can report these vehicles accurately through their training and enter them into the database securely enabling us to target vital road safety messaging to those who choose to break the law.”