A VAN driver was fined hundreds of pounds for running his vehicle off heating oil during a police crackdown on commercial vehicle crime.

The driver was ordered to pay �500 by Custom and Excise and told to have his vehicle flushed and cleaned within 48 hours after officials dipped his fuel tank as part of two road side checks in the Caister area.

It is illegal to use oils as fuel unless you hold a licence from HM Revenue and Customs to the pay the difference between the full rate of duty on the fuel and the rebated rate paid on the fuel used.

Meanwhile, a second driver was reported for having no MOT, while a third driver received a ticket for driving with an illegal number plate.

More than 30 vehicles were stopped during the clampdown, which took place on a layby on the A149 at Ormesby St Michael and on the A1064 at the Fleggburgh Village Hall car park.

Sgt Andy Brown of Caister and Coastal Villages Safer Neighbourhood Team said the day had been a success.

“We had a good day with about 30 vehicles being stopped during the course of the checks.

“Two vehicle defect forms were issued – one to the driver of a vehicle with a smashed windscreen, the other to a driver of a vehicle with a damaged wing mirror. These give the owners two weeks to fix the problem before action is taken.

“Overall we are pleased with how the day has gone. We’d like to thank those who we stopped for their co-operation and we and our partners will continue to hold regular events such as this to target criminals using our roads.”

Police and partner agencies carried out the checks on Wednesday to make sure commercial vehicles were being driven legally and safely.”

The team were targeting crimes such as metal theft, heating oil and diesel theft and rogue trader offences.

The operation included Caister and Coastal Villages Safer Neighbourhood Team, officers from the Automatic Number Plate Recognition Intercept Team and Operation RADAR, as well as partner agencies including the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the Environment Agency and the HM Revenue and Customs Road Fuel Testing Unit.