A CRACKDOWN on vans and small lorries in East Lancashire has left police shocked at the number of dangerous vehicles on the area's roads.

Traffic police joined forces with customs and excise officers and the Vehicle Inspectorate to stage a series of random checks.

The operation took place over one day and was centred around Blackburn and Accrington.

More than 60 light goods vehicles were stopped during Operation Mermaid and scores of faults were uncovered by police mechanics.

Vehicles were stopped in East Lancashire and driven to the police garage in Samlesbury where they were thoroughly tested.

Two vehicles were in such a dangerous state they were driven straight to the scrapyard and destroyed.

Almost 20 vans were taken off the road and their owners ordered to carry out immediate repairs.

Six other drivers were also ordered to carry out repairs on their vans and several others were handed on-the-spot fines and cautions.

One benefit fraud was also uncovered and five vans were being driven without tax discs.

Mechanical problems included bald tyres, dangerous brakes and faulty steering and transmission systems.

Acting Inspector Bev Saycell of the Road Policing Unit said: "Operation Mermaid is a national campaign that targets goods vehicles across the country with the overall aim of improving the safety of such vehicles on the road.

"We run these operations around four times a year and every time the results do not seem to improve.

"It appears there are a large number of vehicles on the road with serious defects and faults.

"At the end of the day, if a van has faulty brakes or tyres then the public are being put at risk."

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