More than 160 vehicles have been stopped and checked by police during a major operation to reduce road crime.

Operation ‘Surround a Town’ was carried out yesterday in Valley Hill, Loughton, and Manor Road, Chigwell.

Fifty-five people were caught without a seatbelt and 20 were stopped for using a mobile phone.

Fourteen people were also found to be driving without a MOT.

Offenders were identified by officers patrolling in cars or on motorcycles and were escorted to check sites.

Three drivers had their vehicles seized after they were found to have no insurance and three were found to be driving with invalid licences.

One driver was reported for careless driving, 11 people were found to be using illegal tints on vehicle windows and six other traffic offences were dealt with.

A total of 190 speeding drivers were also stopped by mobile police units working across the district and during a school speedwatch by children in Loughton.

Essex road safety officers and officers from the Epping Forest District Council licensing team also took part in the operation.

The operation was also part of Essex County Council’s No Excuse campaign to tackle motoring offences.