A BLITZ on vehicles has uncovered a range of offences - including some that could put lives in danger.

The police joined forces with the Vehicle And Operator Services Agency, DVLA and Customs And Excise for the crackdown on Leeds Road yesterday.

Just over 50 vehicles were checked and 13 were found to have faults. Two lorries were discovered with loose wheel nuts which could have led to disastrous consequences if the wheels had come off at speed.

A van was found with coroded brake pipes and a lorry had a locking device missing from its braking system.

The driver was banned from going any further until he had fixed it.

Eight drivers were caught in untaxed cars and five more had tinkered with their registration plates so they did not read as they should.

Three motorists had windows so darkly tinted they were breaking the law.

They had to remove the tinted film immediately.

One was letting in just 13% of natural light.

Two vans were found to be badly overloaded - one was stacked with concrete roof tiles.

Pc Peter Doyle, of Huddersfield traffic police, said: "If vehicles are overloaded it takes them far longer to come to a halt if the drivers have to brake.

"They will also handle differently going around corners."

He urged people to check their brakes and lights regularly and make sure their tyres have at least 3mm tread to grip the slippery roads.

More than 40 vehicles were tested to see if they were running illegally on red diesel or paraffin. None were found.

Vehicle examiner Michael Mann, from the Vehicle And Operator Services Agency, said: "We work very closely with Huddersfield traffic police on these checks.

"It gets the message to vehicle operators that we are out and about.

"It makes them aware that their vehicles will get stopped sooner or later and mechanically checked."

He added: "People who drive around in heavily tinted windows ought to be aware that if they have an accident their insurance may well be void."

Pc Doyle added that many young scooter riders were cutting down their L plates so only the red L was showing.

"This is an offence and they face getting a £60 fine and three points on their licences," he said.

"They must display the L plates at the front and back of their bikes and they must be the standard legal size."