Speed cameras on the Surrey stretch of the M25 were switched on in January, not summer 2014 as originally planned.

Managed by Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty's Court Service, the cameras had not been switched on since their installation on 2009.

The Highways Agency said last January the mounted gantry cameras would be operational by summer 2014 but an Freedom of Information request to Surrey Police confirmed the switch-on only happened at the beginning of this year.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "The speed cameras on the M25 are active and the speed limit is enforceable through the cameras, and by Surrey Police's roads policing officers who carry out regular enforcement activities on the county's roadways and major routes."

Highway Agency statistics showed in 2013, 139,533 vehicles a day were recorded driving past a single point on the M25 near junction 9.

Between J10 and 16 of the M25 861 fatal and slight accidents happened from 2009 to 2013.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Safety is the Highways Agency’s top priority, and we determined to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our network by 40 per cent before 2020. Variable speed limits have been used on this section of the M25 since the 1990's.

"They play a role in improving safety, and also help to smooth out traffic and reduce frustrating stop-start congestion."