THREE coaches were barred from leaving a racecourse after police found they were too dangerous to be on the road.

The defective buses were prevented from taking to the road with passengers on board by traffic police and Department of Transport officials at Thirsk racecourse, in North Yorkshire, on Saturday.

Of the 26 vehicles examined on the day, 16 were found to have faults.

Drivers were given a set period of time to carry out repairs.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: "This was a successful operation, making a positive contribution to road safety."

The safety drive was part of Operation Tourist 2000, an initiative carried out by the county force and the Department of Transport