POLICE aim to put the brakes on motorists who speed and ignore traffic signs in Bishop Auckland.

More officers on foot and in traffic cars will be targeting drivers who break the law, and closed-circuit television footage will be monitored to catch offenders.

The Bondgate and Newgate Street areas of the town will come under greatest scrutiny after reports of drivers using time-restricted roads out of hours.

Only emergency vehicles are allowed to use Fore Bondgate between 10.30am and 4.30pm. At other times, it is only open to disabled drivers and other motorists for access.

Sergeant Andrea Clayton said: "Residents and business people have complained about speeding in the Bondgate area, and we have been monitoring Bondgate, Newgate Street and nearby car parks for some time.

"Clearly those who flout the speed limit are putting lives at risk, and they need to know their actions will not be tolerated.

"In addition to threatening people's safety by driving too fast on roads they should not be using, drivers are throwing litter from their vehicles, and some of the younger 'boy racers' are making the lives of those who live and work in the area a misery by revving their engines unnecessarily and playing loud music."