A ROAD which is used as an escape route by criminals has been the target of a surprise blitz.

Nearly 1,000 fixed penalty notices have also been handed out in Manor Road, Chigwell, over the past 18 months, which is why police singled it out for special attention on Wednesday (August 12).

During the crackdown, Essex police pulled over hundreds of drivers for a number of offences, including not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile while driving.

Over the course of the day, 75 tickets were given out.

Drivers without seatbelts were the most common, with 68 people getting tickets, a further 12 were caught driving while using mobile phones.

Three vehicles were seized by officers after it was discovered they had no insurance and another five had no valid MOT.

Two motorists were fined for speeding and one was stopped for not being in control of his vehicle.