The camera, on the A259 Littlehampton Road, at Ferring, had a tyre placed around it shortly after 5am on Friday, September 7, which was then set alight.

The act has been condemned by the Sussex Safety Camera Partnership (SSCP), which said it disrespected the families of those who had died on the road.

In August, 2004, former dentist Bill Lewis, 81, was killed just yards from where the camera now stands.

He was hit by a car as he used the pedestrian crossing at the top of Ferring Lane.

Earlier in 2004, nine-year-old C.J. Oakfold was killed at the same spot as he tried to cross the road with his brother.

Emma Rogers, communications manager for SSCP, said: "The camera was installed to protect the road and to slow speeders down so more people aren't killed there.

"If, as a result of the camera being burned, people speed up and someone else is killed, then the blood is on this arsonist's hands.

"To do this shows an utter lack of respect for the people who were killed on this road and their families."

She also confirmed the blaze was similar to those known to have been started by anti-speed camera vigilante groups.

The speed limit on the road at this stretch is 50mph.

At the end of September last year, the camera made Herald front page news when it was destroyed just two days after being installed.

At the time, there was no camera inside but the blaze ruined the
housing, which had to be replaced.

This time, there was a camera inside, but the housing was fireproof and it is hoped all the data captured on the camera inside will be retrieved.

Tuesday, the housing had been replaced and the camera was in full working order again.

The camera was installed after the SSCP found the 700-metre stretch of road met the necessary government criteria for a camera.

Miss Rogers said: "If we were in the business of making money, then we would paint the cameras green and hide them in the bushes.

"This is about safety and saving lives."

Anyone with information about the blaze should contact police on 0845 6070999.