NEARLY 1,000 motorists have been caught breaking the speed limit in the first week of a crackdown by police.

Last week forces across the country announced their support for a national speeding operation led by the National Police Chief’s Council.

It saw an increase in the number of mobile speed camera vans deployed on the roads and an increase in targeted traffic patrols.

Now Northumbria Police have revealed they caught nearly 1,000 drivers breaking the limit in the first week of their enforcement activity.

This includes both cars and motorcycles with those on two wheels some of those among the worst offenders.

The worst incidents of speeding included one vehicle that was caught driving at 82mph on Barrack Road in Newcastle, nearly triple the 30mph limit.

Elsewhere a vehicle was caught speeding at 75mph on King George Road in South Shields (30mph) and 96mph on the A690 Houghton Cut (50mph).

Northumbria Police’s Chief Inspector for Motor Patrols has called on motorists to curb their speed as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Chief Inspector Sam Rennison said: “We know that some of the lockdown restrictions will be eased next week and that could lead to a further increase of traffic on the roads. We have seen an increase in the average speed of motorists due to the quieter roads but that can’t continue.”