POLICE have been out in force carrying out vehicle checks in the Donyatt area this week.

Police used a camera on the A358 near Donyatt Bowling Club to check registration plates to check that vehicles were insured on the DVLA database.

Some 1,151 cars were scanned and more than 45 cars were stopped in the operation on Friday afternoon.

Thirteen reports of uninsured vehicles were called in to be checked.

Motorists who drive uninsured face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.

The police action also had the effect of slowing traffic through the village.

PC Chris Williams of Chard Police said: “We are hoping to do this again in the near future in a different location. The main advantage is the calming effect it has on traffic.”

Not all cars in the checks were uninsured – some were waiting for DVLA registration forms to transfer to a new keeper.

Police also found a vehicle behaving suspiciously and stopped a suspected criminal from London after pulling it over.

PC Williams added: “We have had a lot of good feedback – particularly from the villagers in Donyatt. People actually pulled over to thank us for doing it.”

The operation was a joint effort organised by Chard’s team five emergency response team and the Chard beat team, with PCSOs and beat managers involved.