DRIVERS have been clocked speeding at over 100mph on the M5 during lockdown as they use the motorway as a 'race track'.

Officers from the Worcestershire Operations Patrol Unit recorded one driver travelling in excess of 110mph on the M5 between junctions 8 (Strensham) and 7 (Worcester South) on Sunday. A spokesman for the force said: "Please slow down, speeding cost lives. The NHS don’t need the added strain on resources at this critical time."

Also on Sunday, they also stopped another driver between junctions 7 and 8 with an average speed of 115mph.

A police spokesman added: "Just because the roads are quiet they are not a race track."

Today the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) speed enforcement operation was launched.

With the gradual relaxing of lockdown restrictions police forces throughout the UK will be sharing messages across social media and other platforms encouraging the public to slow down and save lives, in addition to normal speed enforcement activity.

Phase two from the May 25 will see forces step up visible speed enforcement activity for the following two weeks.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, Roads Policing Lead for NPCC, said: “With the gradual move out of lockdown and with traffic volumes starting to increase, this national operation is an important way of highlighting the dangers of speeding, particularly when so many people have not been out on the roads for quite some time.

"Unsurprisingly, the lockdown saw very quiet roads. Many forces reported increased speeding in a general sense and some forces reported instances of very excessive speeding. It is also of particular note that we have seen an increase in pedal cyclists at this time, many of whom may be unfamiliar with busier roads."