A TWO day operation targeting illegal motorists in east Cleveland has proved to be a success.

Officers from Loftus Neighbourhood Policing Team ran Operation Wheels on Sunday and Monday, with help from VOSA, (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and from HM Revenue and Customs Road Fuel Testing Unit.

The first day took place on the A171 Moor Road near Lockwood Beck when 59 vehicles were checked. Three were seized by HM Customs for using red diesel and the owners fined £1,500 in total.

VOSA issued five prohibition notices on vehicles which were found to be unroadworthy. And one driver was given a fixed penalty notice for having a child not restrained correctly in a vehicle.

The operation was run at three different locations on the Monday; the A174 at Boulby, the A174 at Carlin How and on Stanghow Road in Lingdale.

In total 85 vehicles were checked, with three found to be using red diesel, with one driver fined £500.

VOSA issued nine prohibition notices to drivers, including one for a vehicle found to have defective brakes. This driver was forced to arrange recovery for the vehicle and was also given an endorsable fixed penalty notice.

A further fixed penalty notice was issued to another driver, again for having a child not correctly restrained in a vehicle.

Neighbourhood Policing Acting Sergeant Adrian Berryman said: "Road safety is a priority set by the residents of the four wards covered by the Loftus Neighbourhood Policing team; at Brotton, Carlin How, Lockwood and Loftus.

"Officers will continue to carry out further operations of this type throughout the summer months."