FIFTY drivers were stopped during the last of a series of operations designed to curb speeding in the Hambleton area.

The setting for the fourth Operation Siren - a road safety campaign which brings together members of all the emergency services and the Hambleton Community Safety Partnership - was held in Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold.

Officers focused on the village after results from speed matrix tests in April showed a very high percentage of speeders.

The showed the average speed of 85 per cent of vehicles entering the village was 46mph - in a 30mph zone.

Over a two-hour period 50 speeding drivers entering the village were stopped by police and given a choice - either take a £60 fixed penalty ticket and three points on their licence or spend 20 minutes being educated on the perils of bad driving.

Forty four opted for the latter and were given a talk by officers from each of the services - and shown a shocking film on road accidents. The remaining six were given fixed penalty tickets.

Operations have also taken place at Easingwold, Huby and Chop Gate over the past month - almost 100 drivers were stopped at them with 73 per cent opting to listen to the educational talks.