A DRIVER was issued fines totalling £1,300 for 18 driving offences during a multi-agency operation on the A19.

Cleveland and North Yorkshire Police were joined by the Driving Standards Agency, the Environment Agency and the DWP to catch illegal motorists at the Exelby services near Yarm.

Of the ten lorries and vans checked, two HGV drivers were given advice about vehicle markings and one was issued with a prohibition for two defective tyres.

A mechanical defect was found with one light goods vehicle and the driver of another was fined a total of £1,300 for 18 offences relating to driving hours.

PC Amanda Stokes, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said the aim was to keep motorists safe on one of the region's main routes.