THREE cars were seized within five hours in a police operation aimed at catching out dodgy drivers.

Police officers from Yeading and Barnhill ward in Hayes were joined by special constables for Operation Reclaim, targeting uninsured and unlicensed drivers and cars not fit for the road.

During the course of last Saturday afternoon, three cars were taken off the road and tickets were issued to drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts.

Sergeant Simon Robson said: "We have found in the past that many vehicles we seize are from drivers who have criminal records.

"Often offenders travel away from their home borough to commit crime and these operations have helped us in the past to arrest many who are travelling in with the wrong intentions."

The operation was run in partnership with the Vehicle Recovery and Examination Service, and Sgt Robson said its support was invaluable.

"They have excellent knowledge and skills in identifying illegal cars, such as those that have been put together often with stolen parts, and in recognising forged foreign documents."

Operation Reclaim has been running for three years, and 2,550 vehicles have been seized in the borough since January 2009.