Belt up or pay up!

Greater Manchester Police Traffic Officers have caught 2665 drivers and passengers not wearing their seat belts, just halfway into a national month-long campaign.

Throughout February, officers have been stepping up checks on drivers and passengers who are travelling without their seat belts, putting them and those with them at risk.

Those who are caught not wearing a seat belt are issued with a fixed penalty notice and fined £60.

Chief Inspector Alec McMurchy said: “The Think! National campaign is trying to change people’s attitude towards wearing a seat belt and we are supporting this by stopping and fining those who flout this law.

“I am shocked at the amount of people we have caught not wearing a seat belt since this campaign began. Wearing seat belts saves lives, choosing not to makes absolutely no sense at all "

The Department for Transport campaign features a TV advert displaying graphic images of the damage that can be caused to internal organs when someone not wearing a seat belt is involved in a serious collision.