Hundreds of motorists were targeted during a 13-day blitz in July. Officers from Clitheroe Police caught 251 motorists failing to wear a seatbelt while 43 were issued with a £60 fine and given three penalty points for using a mobile phone when driving.

Sgt John Lindsay, of Clitheroe Police, has been in charge of the crackdown is disappointed with the results which has seen a rise in motorists flouting legislation in the past 12 months.

He said police had targeted roads in Clitheroe, Whalley, Read, Simonstone, Langho, Wilpshire and Longridge.

"The operation followed complaints raised at monthly Police and Community Together meetings and we had some very interesting excuses," he said.



"In one incident, a woman was stopped after being spotted using her mobile phone while driving. When she saw the officers approaching her vehicle, she threw the phone in the footwell and denied ever using it.

"Meanwhile, on another morning a man was caught not wearing a seatbelt and when questioned his excuse was he was rushing to a doctor's appointment when he actually didn't have one."

He went on to say: "I hope what we have done last month will make people think twice before breaking the law in future and set out a clear signal to them that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour and we will take firm action against anyone found to be doing so."