A CLAMPDOWN on illegal motorists has resulted in two vehicles being taken off the road.

Operation Mermaid was held yesterday, (Wednesday, May 21) between 8.30am and noon on the A19 southbound, prior to the Portrack Lane exit at Stockton.

The operation saw Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit join forces with partner agencies including HM Revenue and Customs, the Border Agency, Trading Standards, VOSA and local authority enforcement officers.

More than 80 vehicles were stopped during the operation and two vehicles were seized for having no insurance.

Prohibitions were issued to vehicles with defective tyres and other prohibitions were issued to vehicles that were overloaded. A number of drivers were dealt with for tachograph offences.

Acting Inspector Darren Breslin said: “The operation has been very successful. We have managed to remove two uninsured vehicles from the road and a number of enquiries are continuing to be carried out by our partner agencies.

“We carry out these operations to ensure that our roads as safe as possible for our motorists and we will continue with them whilst there are unsafe vehicles on our roads.”