More than 20 people have been arrested in a major operation to catch criminals involved in burglaries, vehicle theft and other offences.

Operation Nemesis saw officers from the district, the Metropolitan police force and the British Transport Police involved in a 24 hour sting across West Essex, today.

Three men were arrested for burglary and five for going equipped to steal.

Two men were also arrested or driving a stolen 4x4 vehicle towing a stolen caravan. Another man stopped in a road check was arrested after being found with items stolen in a burglary in the Met area.

A total of 271 vehicles were stopped and checked at Manor Road, Chigwell and Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, as well as sites in Brentwood.

Ten vehicles were seized after being found to be uninsured, 76 had no MOT, 39 drivers were stopped for not using seatbelts and 28 people were stopped for using a mobile phone while driving.

Five motorists were caught driving without a licence and more than 30 other driving related offences were dealt with.