Speeding motorists on Welshpool radar

Less traffic on the roads caused by the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions has led to Welshpool’s bypass and other local main roads feeling like a race track at times.

Reacting to a “vast amount of reports of motorists speeding”, the Newtown Roads Policing Unit has taken to Twitter to issue a warning.

Posting a picture of a motorist clocked doing 94mph on a 60mph road near Welshpool, they warned “court awaits”.

The roads have gradually become busier over the past fortnight as English lockdown rules are eased and local residents also take a risk of fines to make non-essential journeys.

Last week, one local officer reported that there were as many Welsh motorists being warned for non-essential journeys as those coming across the border. They reported that about one-in-six were warned and sent home from a checkpoint in Trewern that stopped up to 70 vehicles.

Last night, the Welsh Government raised the fines issued with the amount doubling each time a motorist is caught. It means a six-time offender would be fined £1,920.