Last updated at 11:16, Saturday, 14 July 2012

A driver has been arrested for speeding at 131mph in west Cumbria.

The man, who police said was one of eight caught in an hour on Distington bypass last night, has been summonsed to appear in court.

The drivers, all aged under 25, were caught during a crackdown on road safety in west Cumbria. Several were doing more than 100mph and have also been summonsed before magistrates.

The bypass had to be closed for a short time after two boys, aged 14 and 15, were seen walking home along the carriageway.

Sergeant Jim Rooney told the News & Star this morning they were “extremely concerned” about the dangers road users were putting themselves and others in by driving at excessive speed.

He said the boys were wearing dark clothing in an area without lighting. Cars were swerving to avoid them.

The month-long road safety operation in west Cumbria was launched to pre-empt a seasonal trend that sees motorists in the west of the county involved in a higher than average number of crashes in the summer.

More than 70 motorists were caught for drink driving, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, breaking the speed limit and driving without insurance.

The operation also involved officers from the Copeland Neighbourhood Team and the Special Constabulary.

First published at 11:15, Saturday, 14 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk