MORE than 100 people in the Nelson and Brierfield areas have been issued with fixed penalty tickets for failing to wear seatbelts as part of a police campaign encouraging motorists to "belt up".

Tickets were issued to 118 people this week by police who said they were disappointed at the number of people still not wearing seat belts and risking death and serious injury in the event of an accident.

The people issued with tickets were from all age ranges. They were all stopped on one day of special action but officers have pledged to continue the crackown if people continue to flout the law.

In addition to those stopped for not wearing seatbelts, one motorist was reported for failing to stop for police and another for carrying too many passengers on board his vehicle.

PS Keith Beckley said: "Seatbelts save lives - that's a fact. Since seatbelt wearing was made compulsory in 1983 it is estimated that casualties have been reduced by a minimum of 370 deaths and 7,000 serious injuries per year for front seat passengers alone.

"However, despite this clear evidence that seat belts save lives, as well as repeated warnings about seatbelt use by police, many motorists and passengers are still failing to belt up in the car, putting themselves in serious danger."