SCHOOLS may be closed for the Easter break – but that doesn't mean drivers can flout the traffic rules outside them.

That's a message that some drivers in Purfleet learned to their cost yesterday (Wednesday, 31 March) when they were caught up in an Essex Police speeding crackdown.

A statement from Thurrock Police says: "Following concerns from local residents raised about speeding along London Road in Purfleet-on-Thames we carried out speed checks there yesterday, dealing with a number of drivers including one clocked at 42mph and another at 35mph in the 20mph section outside the school."

"But it's not just speeding that our roads policing team deal with. A Nissan Note made a very poor attempt at losing our officers in Tilbury yesterday. The vehicle was eventually stopped and its driver arrested for a number of offences and the vehicle seized for no insurance.

"Our roads policing officers police Essex roads to help to reduce those killed and seriously injured on our roads.

"The team carry out patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles to target those driving illegally, targeting offences including driving whilst using a mobile phone, drink and drug driving, driving without wearing a seatbelt and speeding."