A POLICE clampdown caught more than 250 people driving in untaxed vehicles.

The success came in a spate of roadside checks in Dewsbury to find road tax cheats along with cars and lorries that are not fit to be on the roads.

Police and officials from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency used Stingray cameras which can detect untaxed vehicles on the move.

A total of 14,906 vehicles were checked during the two week blitz and 251 were found to be untaxed.

Wheel clamping units targeted vehicles too and clamped a further 96 for not having a valid tax disc.

In all, 135 people were reported for vehicle tax offences and two arrested for driving while banned.

Three stolen vehicles with a total value of £25,000 were also recovered along with three uninsured cars.

Officers were also on the lookout for unroadworthy vehicles. Cars were randomly stopped for safety checks and 33 of them received prohibition notices.

This means the defects were so bad their owners could not drive them any further or they were given time to get the cars repaired.

In a separate clampdown on lorries, 41 were checked with the Vehicle Inspectorate in Owl Lane, Dewsbury.

Nineteen drivers were handed immediate or delayed prohibition notices for faults such as defective brakes, tyres and indicators as well as fuel, oil, air and hydraulic leaks and insecure driving seats.

A further 10 vehicles were issued with inspection notices by vehicle examiners for minor defects again ranging from defective lights, brakes, tyres, suspension and steering as well as air, fuel and oil leaks.

Four drivers were also reported for issues such as failing to have an operator's licence, failing to take a break and tachograph offences.

Sgt Alan Kaye, of Dewsbury traffic police, said: "These operations show there really is no hiding place for those who think they are beyond the law.

"Millions of pounds are lost nationally each year by people evading Vehicle Excise Duty. It really is more hassle than it's worth when you don't pay up."

He added: "The consequences of any large vehicle involved in an accident are potentially grave, but when they are on the roads in a state of disrepair then the chances of being involved in an accident are far greater."

"We are committed to improving safety on the district's roads and will carry on with operations like these working with other agencies to reduce casualties."