Police officers stopped cars in West Cumbria overnight to carry out drug and drink drive tests.

Officers from across the region took part in a major operation on Thursday night into the early hours of Friday to tackle cross-county rural crime.

Cumbria Police officers joined a region-wide campaign with officers from Cleveland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumbria and North Yorkshire as part of Operation Checkpoint.

The operation, which is regularly conducted, targets organised crime groups who travel throughout the region committing crime such as theft and burglary, particularly in rural areas.

A spokesman said: "Throughout the whole of Cumbria, more than 47 vehicles were stopped, this proactive work helps keep the county’s roads safe and reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads."

In North Cumbria overnight six officers and seven volunteers stopped seven cars as part of the campaign. A vehicle was seized during the operation and the driver was reported for driving without supervision on a provisional licence and driving without insurance. No arrests.

In South Cumbria overnight officers and seven volunteers stopped 20 vehicles covering the areas of the Lancashire border, North Yorkshire and Kirkby Lonsdale. During the operation searches were also carried out on two persons and two vehicles. No arrests.

In West Cumbria four officers throughout the night stopped approximately 20 vehicles during the operation. They carried out a drug wipe, breath test and fit test of persons during the vehicle stop. No arrest were made.

Those involved include police officers, PCSOs, Special Constabulary officers, and Farmwatch volunteers.

Superintendent Gary Slater, Rural crime Force lead said: “Operation Checkpoint is a very successful collaboration between five police forces in the north west and north east regions.

“Operations such as this are vital in not only disrupting criminals who travel across county borders, but in gaining intelligence by engaging with the rural communities.

“Tackling rural crime and keeping the community safe are priorities for the neighbourhood policing teams in Cumbria, and the successes of this operation are not just down to our officers but also the volunteers who give up their own time to come out thought the evening and do their bit for their community.

“If anyone is interested in volunteering for future operations, or would like some information on the many volunteer opportunities with Cumbria Police, please get in touch via our website.”

Commenting on the results of the Operation, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “We know that rural crime can have a devastating impact on farmers and their businesses and those who live in rural areas. It is absolutely vital therefore that we work together to keep crime away from our rural and farming communities across the county.”

Anyone interested in volunteering or becoming an active member of Farmwatch should contact the Constabulary's Citizens in Policing department. More: www.citizensinpolicing.net/police-forces/cumbria-constabulary