A VAN driver texting on a busy motorway with no hands on the wheel was among those caught by a team of police officers in an undercover lorry.

Northumbria Police have revealed 23 drivers were caught breaking the law in just four-days during the covert operation – aimed at keeping the roads safe.

Working alongside Highways England, Operation Tramline was launched in the region last Monday and saw officers riding in an HGV to look out for drivers committing traffic offences.

From their lofty vantage point, officers caught a van driver with his mobile in one hand and a water bottle in the other – with no hands on the steering wheel.

Dozens more were stopped by the specially-adapted HGV and reported for using a mobile phone behind the wheel. Other motorists were stopped for speeding, driving with no insurance and running red lights.

Sergeant Jane Munro, of Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, said: “We take no pleasure from taking action against these motorists but we hope this type of enforcement will help influence their future behaviour and send a wider message to drivers.

“Our patrols on our region’s highways will continue and we will be using the HGV again at a number of future dates throughout the year.

“However, we are always out and about conducting work like this whether we have the HGV or not – the message is simple, drive responsibly and play your part in keeping our roads safe.”

The operation ran between Monday, February 22, and Thursday, February 25, with Highways England loaning traffic officers the HGV to carry out patrols along the A1.

Throughout the week the teams also conducted routine stops with drivers to check the conditions of the vehicles and ensure all documentation was in order.

A range of offences were identified including drivers not having correct paperwork when carrying dangerous goods, breach of driver hours, insecure loads, defective brakes and insufficient tread on tyres.

As a result of the initiative, six drivers have been summoned to court, nine issued with fixed penalty notices, five sent on Driver Education Courses and three given verbal warnings.

All drivers caught during the operation were male and more than 80 per cent were over the age of 25.