Motorists driving the wrong way down a town centre street were among 18 people stopped by police for traffic offences.

An operation carried out by officers from the Medway Community Safety Unit in a bid to improve road safety in the Towns.

Police were out and about across Chatham, Rochester and Strood on April 30 and stopped speeding drivers and issued fines for breaching driving laws.

Five drivers were fined for driving in the wrong direction along Batchelor Street in Chatham town centre near Halfords.

Eight drivers were also fined for speeding along Robin Hood Lane, which has a 30mph speed limit. The fastest recorded speed was clocked at 46mph.

Another five motorists were slapped with tickets for a variety of other traffic offences.

One was found to be using a mobile phone while driving in New Road, Chatham and another driving using an illegal number plate in Robin Hood Lane.

A vehicle which was being driven without insurance was seized at Rochester railway station.

Police also found a driver without their vehicle having a valid MOT and officers also made two child protection referrals.

A toddler was found inside a car being driven without a secured child seat.

Two drivers were also arrested in connection with drug offences.

A man in his 40s from Maidstone was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing. He was released on bail until May 30 pending further inquiries.

A suspected drug dealer from Hoo, aged in his 30s, was also arrested in Terance Butler Avenue in Gillingham following information about possible drug dealing.

"As part of our approach to tackling road safety in Medway we regularly carry out these proactive safety operations..."

Officers searched the vehicle and found and he was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing. He was bailed until May 30 pending further inquiries.

Police also issued three DVLA notices due to vehicles being driven without road tax and the authority will apply for backdated tax to be paid by the vehicles owners.

Defective vehicles were also stopped over concerns for drivers failing to maintain them properly including a cracked front windscreen and faulty light.

Insp Steve Bassett, from the Medway Community Safety Unit, said: "As part of our approach to tackling road safety in Medway we regularly carry out these proactive safety operations.

"While the majority of drivers in the Medway towns drive responsibly and adhere to the law there is a small minority which do not.

"We listen to residents and target areas which have been identified as potential hotspots and take proportionate enforcement action against people suspected to have committed an offence.

"If residents do have a concern affecting their area, please do report it to us via our website or by calling 101."

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