Rule-breaking road users have been identified across the county, as officers took part in a national project to tackle dangerous driving.

Members of Cumbria Police were involved with Project Edward and the National Police Chiefs Council's One Road, One Week campaign last week, in a bid to spot those being reckless on the roads.

Officers from the road safety team, mobile support group, collision reduction and road safety cameras visited more than 25 roads of concern.

And they were certainly kept busy, with 277 speeding drivers caught in the week-long project.

In the five days of action, one driver was found to be travelling at 60mph in a 40mph zone, and two other drivers were speeding at over 100mph on a national limit road.

On top of excessive speeding, 30 offences of using a mobile while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and distraction were also recorded.

Roads policing inspector, Steve Minnikin, said: “This has been a successful week of enforcement as well as engagement.

“Unfortunately there are still a number of people on our roads putting themselves and others at risk through the fatal four factors of speeding, using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt and drink/drug driving which are all completely avoidable.”

He continued: “All drivers on our roads have a responsibility when they get behind the wheel; take care and it could save lives.

“This is not the end of this week of action for us, we do this day in day to make our roads as safe as we can.”

Project Edward – acronym for Every Day Without a Road Death – aims to raise awareness of the risks of driving dangerously, as well as the theme of driving for work.

Officers also teamed up with officers from Northumbria Police for a joint motorcyclist engagement event in Rothbury, Northumberland.

Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner, Peter McCall, was also pleased with the project, and said: “It’s great to see the force actively tackling anti-social driving during this week of action, although I know their work to improve road safety is a year-round operation.

“Please consider other road users as well as your own.

“It is important not to and you are breaking the law if you speed, drive under the influence of drink or drugs or use your mobile phone when driving.”

He added: “We never know what is around the corner so always drive sensibly and let’s work together to end road accidents and deaths in Cumbria and across the UK.”