POLICE stopped a motorist who was allegedly driving at more than twice the speed limit.

North Yorkshire Police were alerted to reports of the BMW M5 driving at speeds of up to 150mph on the A1(m) at about 8pm on Wednesday.

The force's roads policing group and armed officers were alerted to the speeding vehicle after it was caught on ANPR - automatic number plate recognition - cameras, between Wetherby and Boston Spa.

Sergeant Paul Cording of the force's roads policing group said the driver was travelling "at ridiculous speed", and showed an "unbelievable disregard for road safety". The vehicle was stopped by road policing officers close to Bramham.

Sgt Cording wrote on Twitter: "When stopped both front tyres were defective with one having the wire cord exposed. Driver arrested for dangerous driving & vehicle prohibited.

"The driver has been interviewed and charged to court with dangerous driving & 2 defective tyres. I’m still struggling to work out why someone would put themselves & other road users at such risk."

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said a 39-year-old man from Merseyside was arrested at the scene and charged on Thursday with dangerous driving and having two bald tyres.

He is due before magistrates in York next month.