MORE than 240 vehicles were stopped and checked by Essex police during a major operation in Colchester to increase road safety and reduce crime.

Operation Surround A Town saw more than 50 police officers carrying out roadside checks and mobile patrols yesterday.

The operation was also part of Essex County Council’s three-year No Excuse campaign aiming tackle motoring offences.

The campaign also aims to raise awareness that there is no excuse for speeding, driving while using a mobile phone, not wearing seat belts or driving without insurance or valid driving documents.

Seven vehicles were seized because the drivers were not insured,

Meanwhile, a total of 66 drivers were stopped for not wearing seat belts, 32 vehicles were found to have expired MoTs and 24 drivers were stopped for driving while using a mobile telephone.

In addition, 20 other motoring offences were dealt with, including five cases where vehicles had illegal tints on their windows.

Around half of the drivers stopped for not wearing seat belts volunteered to attend a road safety training course run by Essex Highways officers.

County councillor Derrick Louis, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “About 30 of the people stopped for not wearing a seat belt opted to attend our education course and, after successful completion, had their fixed penalty notice nullified.

“Road safety operations like this can also lead to arrests for other offences such as burglary, so we’re working to make our county safer as a whole, not just the roads.”