TEN motorists were stopped for breaking the law at the start of a crackdown on rogue drivers.

The operation will be rolled out across Darwen over the coming weeks, targeting motorists who speed, illegally use mobile phones, do not wear seat belts and have no tax or insurance.

Today, 10 people were pulled over for flouting the law when the first phase of the operation took place in Blackburn Road, between 10am and noon.

People using mobile phones while driving and people not wearing seat belts were the two main problems found.

Police Community Support Officer Nick Gisicz from the Darwen Neighbourhood Policing Team organised the event.

He said: "Although motoring offences are no worse here than anywhere else, Darwen is leading the way in this area on monitoring.

"The problems we are looking for are regularly brought up at Police and Community Together (PACT) meetings, so it is a real concern in the community.

"We are listening to what members of the public are telling us and responding to it.

"We are also working in partnership with the DVLA team who are in town to deal with anybody found not to have road tax."

Instant fines of £60 and three penalty points on driving licences were given to those stopped.

The offenders were spotted by two police officers sitting in an unmarked van 200metres down the road from the pulling in point, who then radioed ahead to colleagues.

PCSO Gisicz added: "People have been very responsive when they have been pulled over.

"They know what they have done is wrong."

PC Paul Faloon, a community beat manager, was tasked with speaking to those drivers pulled over.

He said: "Any driver caught committing an offence will be dealt with robustly by the police.

"We have chosen this location because it is busy and in close proximity to the town centre with lots of pedestrians about."