WILTSHIRE police have been involved in a co-ordinated crackdown on dangerous lorries across the south west.

Police forces from all over the south west have carried out an intelligence-lead operation to target both UK and European- based commercial vehicles using the major road network.

As part of a national campaign codenamed Operation Mermaid, 322 vehicles were stopped over a two-day period last week, with one in two of all vehicles and drivers stopped were found to be committing offences.

Two drivers were arrested, one for driving while disqualified and another was wanted on warrant for other offences.

Other infringements included overweight vehicles, mechanical defects and driving longer than the law allows.

Chief Insp Tony Oliver, co-ordinating the initiative in the south west, said: "The number of vehicles found with offences gives us cause for concern.

"Overweight vehicles can seriously affect the handling capabilities of a vehicle, which can, on occasions, contribute to a driver losing control of the vehicle.

"The number of drivers from across Europe who are known to flout the law on driver's hours are very often tired drivers. We know a tired driver is as likely to be involved in a serious or fatal collision as a drink-driver.