A long-term campaign to reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents in Cheshire was officially launched on the M6 near Sandbach today (Thursday).

Cheshire Police are cracking down on motorists committing the fatal five - careless driving, using mobile phones, failing to wear a seatbelt, speeding and drink and drug driving – plus other motoring offences in Op Enforcing.

And they are also targeting dangerous or incorrectly laden vehicles driving through Cheshire and those linked to criminality in a bid to save lives and some of number of deaths and serious accidents on our roads.

Supt Jon Betts briefed officers at the event behind Sandbach South Services this morning before an unmarked HGV and several other vehicles, including motorbike police, left to patrol the motorway.

He said the aim was to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths occurring on the county's roads due to "poor driving behaviour".

Supt Betts told Sandbach Nub News: "When we look at collisions and road accidents many of these are preventable.

"What we are asking is to drivers to take responsibility for their actions and to realise that making decisions has consequences.

"We want to roads to be safe for everyone. We don't want any driver to be responsible for taking someone's life."

The operation will be ongoing and Supt Betts said more staff will be added to Op Enforcing two or three days' a week.