A TWO-WEEK police campaign highlighting the importance of wearing a seatbelt caught more than 80 motorists driving without one on.

The campaign saw Durham Constabulary officers focus on education as well as enforcement, with presentations and visits to colleges across the Cleveland and Durham force areas.

Whilst conducting roadside checks in Cleveland officers noted 35 seatbelt offences - one of which involved a child who was not in the appropriate seat restraint.

In Durham there were a total of 47 offences.

Temporary Chief Inspector Ed Turner, head of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “It defies belief that any parent would not take the time to put on their child’s seatbelt, therefore risking their child’s life.

“Putting on a seatbelt takes about 30 seconds and it is shocking that some people still do not take the time to do it.”

He added: “There is only so much that us and our partners can do to keep people safe on our roads, the rest is up to you.”