NEARLY 300 drivers were dealt with for traffic and other offences in the first police operation covering the entire length of the M5.

Operation Unity involved seven police forces, including Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset officers, targeting the motorway from Birmingham to Devon.

During the two-day crackdown, officers stopped 291 drivers, including 70 for speeding and 35 for not wearing their seat belts. Fixed penalty notices were also issued to 54 people for using their mobile phones at the wheel.

In one incident, officers responded to a report that a man had been seen with a handgun in a Mercedes van near Cullompton in Devon.

Local armed police picked traced the van and monitored its journey into Somerset. It was eventually stopped near Bristol and searched. Although no arrests were made, a BB pistol was recovered.

During the operation, 11 people were arrested on suspicion of a variety of other offences, among them two men arrested over suspected vehicle thefts. They were both charged with theft, fraud and taking a vehicle without consent.

Police said the aim of the operation was to crack down on travelling criminals and target traffic offenders.

Superintendent Paul Keasey, head of the Central Motorway Police Group which led the operation, said: "We are delighted with the results of this operation.

"We hope it sends a clear message to members of the criminal community that we will act on the information we receive from the public and take whatever action necessary to disrupt their activities.

“We also hope it raises the awareness of the ‘fatal five’ offences - namely dangerous and careless driving, using mobile phones, speeding, lack of seatbelts, and drink or drug driving - and makes drivers think more carefully about their actions, helping to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.”