POLICE issued a stern warning to dangerous drivers yesterday as more people were caught travelling at high speeds on the region's roads.

Drivers and motorcyclists who are caught flouting the speed limits have been told that they could be ordered off the road within days.

Latest figures released by North Yorkshire Police showed that 31 people are in danger of losing their licences after they were arrested as part of a campaign to save lives on the county's roads.

Sixteen car drivers and 15 motorcyclists have so far been clocked breaking speed limits - and they could face almost immediate punishment under a new fast-tracking system.

Cases have previously taken months to reach court, but a new arrangement between police and the Crown Prosecution Service means that those facing disqualification are treated as priorities, and cases would be heard within three weeks.

Among those arrested was a motorcyclist clocked while travelling at 144mph on the 60mph limit Settle bypass - one of the highest speeds ever recorded by North Yorkshire traffic police.

A force spokesman said: "Although we do not keep a record of speeds, I am pretty certain that this must have been one of the fastest ever in North Yorkshire."

He added: "We have gone through enormous pains over the years to tell drivers to get some extra training - and if they will not listen then they will have to pay the price. We would far rather they paid the price than somebody else pays it by being killed."

Only five alleged offenders came from North Yorkshire, with 26 others having travelled in from West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumbria, Oxfordshire, Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Bedfordshire and other areas.

Car drivers were caught travelling between 100mph and 113mph on motorways and up to 104mph on single carriageways, while another was clocked at 71mph in a 30mph zone.

Of the motorcyclists, all 15 were caught on single carriageways, travelling at speeds between 90mph and 144mph.

The police crackdown is due to continue until the end of the month