SEVEN people were arrested and three cars were seized as police continued a crackdown on criminals using local roads.

Officers used number plate recognition machines to flag up suspect vehicles at the Shell garage in Manor Road, Chigwell, and at the Tesco petrol station in Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, on Monday, March 16.

Three motorists were arrested for making off without paying for petrol, two for drug offences, one for a public order offence, and one for driving while disqualified.

Five uninsured cars were stopped, and three were taken away to be destroyed unless the correct documents are produced within a fortnight.

This was the second phase of Operation Newcross; the first sting saw four cars seized and two people arrested following stop checks in the district on February 14.

Epping Forest District Commander Alan Ray said: "Criminals use vehicles to carry out many crimes. They will identify a car they want to steal, gain entry to the owner’s home, take the keys and drive away with it.

"The car may be stolen for its own worth or used to commit other crimes. In either case it needs fuel and its occupants need food and drink. Petrol stations provide both, and it is during their visits to these ‘watering holes’ that we can swoop in and catch them.”