FINES totalling more than £7,350 were dished out in a day of action by police on the M4 in Wiltshire.

Around 60 vehicles were stopped and checked by officers, customs and staff from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency between junctions 14 and 15 of the motorway.

Ten of them were over weight and four had serious mechanical defects that resulted in them being taken off the road.

A more than 30 fixed penalty notices were issued during the operation on March 26, one cannabis street caution was given and drivers were also picked up for using mobile phones at the wheel, having no car tax, not using seat belts and having no insurance.

Head of roads policing Insp Steve Cox said: “This operation was mainly focused on heavy goods vehicles from all over the E.U and checking both the vehicles and drivers were suitable to be on our roads.

“Drivers could not have been on the motorway entering Wiltshire without seeing police officers.

"As a result we have seen no collisions reported on this stretch of motorway – so in terms of a improving the safety of our roads, today as been a great success.”

He added: “The safety of our roads depends on the condition of the vehicles driving on them and the people behind the wheel.”

Police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson watched the operation. He said: “Crime does not respect county boundaries and we know from Wiltshire Police activity to disrupt the drugs trade that the M4 can bring criminals into Wiltshire from places like London and Bristol.

“There will also be criminals passing through to other destinations with alcohol and tobacco who have not paid the required duty.”