The town was one of four places targeted in the county's largest ever ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) operation, joining a national day of action.

A camera van was set up in several places around Wisbech over around seven hours.

The equipment in the van captured the number plates of passing vehicles and matched the registration against a number of databases, including the DVLA.

The computers told officers in the space of a second if, for instance, the car was not taxed or insured and a vehicle would then be stopped and the driver questioned.

Insp Clinton Hale from Cambs police explained: "It will disrupt the villains if we can take their cars off them."

Insp Hale said Wisbech is a key area, situated on the border with both Norfolk and Lincolnshire, and is used a lot by criminals.

The force was supported by officers from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk, as well as representatives from several agencies, including Trading Standards, Environment Agency and VOSA.