POLICE are warning coach companies in East Lancashire to make sure vehicles are safe to be on the roads, after an 'alarming' 80 per cent of buses and coaches failed safety checks during a clampdown.

Buses and coaches travelling to Blackpool along the M55 last weekend were stopped by Lancashire Police as part of a major safety campaign -- Operation Tourist.

Police intercepted 36 vehicles from all parts of the country which were escorted to an inspection site in the seaside resort to save any delay for travellers.

A total of 30 out of the 36 vehicles revealed defects -- a failure rate of 83 per cent -- and 16 vehicles were so bad they were immediately taken off the road.

Sgt Brian Roberts, who co-ordinated the scheme, said: "Alarmingly, 16 vehicles had to be prohibited from further use pending some remedial action to defects and five drivers were prohibited from further driving due to excessive hours."

He said examples of defects included two vehicles with faulty brakes, three with speed limiters which were not working and one with an inoperative emergency exit door.

Sgt Roberts added: "While these results reflect the effectiveness of targeting by police officers, it is disappointing to see such a high percentage of defective vehicles used to carry large numbers of people in the main holiday season.

"We hope this exercise has sent a clear message to operators to ensure that vehicles are safe and drivers are fit to be in control."