POLICE have reacted with anger to an e-mail being circulated that claims to reveal vehicles used by officers in a speed crackdown on motorists.

In the e-mail sent to Midweek, the disgruntled motorist says Thames Valley Police are mounting a six-month speeding campaign from July 1, 2001 on the M40, M4, and A34.

The sender claims they will be using the following unmarked cars: BMW 535i, silver BMW 535i, dark green Seat Cordoba 2.0 Sri, silver Vectra 2.5, black Vectra 2.5 Sri, red Omega 3.0 Sri, burgundy Volvo S40 T4 Sri, red Volvo S70, white VW Bora 2.3, red VW Vti and a silver Passat VR6.

The e-mail also says that police will be using a helicopter between junctions 4 and 8/9 of the M4 from next Monday for a two-week period.

But Thames Valley Police said the e-mail was nothing more than an "elaborate hoax" and issued a statement to the press after finding out about it from members of the public.

Inspector Malcolm Collis, head of traffic specialist units, said: "While it is tempting to go along with the fairytale and fool people into believing this, the truth of the matter is that it is a complete figment of someone's imagination.

"We do not even own most of the vehicles listed and would certainly not encourage our helicopter to be used in speed checks. We in Thames Valley Police concentrate speed enforcement efforts through the Safer Roads Campaign, the Government pilot on safety camera funding on the roads where we can impact upon casualties by slowing down drivers on our motorways.

"And we have more miles than any other police force which are the safest roads and consequentially receive very much less enforcement than town roads. I am afraid this is nothing more than an elaborate hoax."

The police concede there is one unmarked car and Free Press motoring writer, Geoff Perfitt, believes he has seen it in action.

He said: "I saw a large unmarked dark coloured car outside the George Hotel, Beaconsfield, one evening two weeks ago with PC Peter Hare and a woman officer in uniform from the Amersham Traffic.

"They had pulled over a van driver and were dealing with some paperwork."