NEWSPAPER distributors, who usually deliver the news, are making headlines.
Some 84 distribution vans were checked in a combined police and Customs operation on Teesside, 37 of them undergoing thorough examinations on the spot because of their poor condition.
Ten vehicles were ordered off the road, with immediate effect, as a result of the Vehicle Inspectorate issuing 17 prohibition orders.
Customs and Excise officials seized 12 vans, nine because they were using kerosene, with the three others driving on red diesel which can only be legally used by tractors and agricultural machinery.
Cleveland Police are dealing with four document offences, two construction and use offences.
Acting Superintendent Mick Bennett, Cleveland Police's head of road policing, said: "This operation demonstrates our overall commitment to reducing casualties on our roads by targeting illegal and unroadworthy vehicles, which due to their condition create a hazard for all road users.
"We will endeavour to use whatever means are available to us to make our roads safer for people to use."
The roadside checks were carried out earlier this week
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