Operation Mermaid, a multi-agency operation to target road offences, saw 29 vehicles stopped, 21 of which were committing offences.

The operation took place on Sunday (May 11) on the A1 at Sawtry.

Among the offences highlight, eight drivers were caught committing driver hour offences and four vehicles were overweight.

Sergeant Robin Marshall, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "It is disappointing to find that so many of the drivers were committing offences.

"It is especially worrying that some drivers think it is acceptable to ignore the law in relation to driver hours and rest breaks. This is extremely dangerous and is putting their lives and the lives of other road users at risk.

"Driving while tired effects your concentration and ability to react to a situation; it is therefore vital motorists take appropriate breaks from the road."

Sergeant Marshall added: "We will continue to run these operations to target those road users who think it is acceptable to break the law as we work to make the county's roads a safer place."

>> Operation Mermaid involves police, VOSA, Trading Standards, the DVLA, Immigration and Customs and Excise.