Greater Manchester Police spent Wednesday cracking down on vehicle crimes and driving offences in an effort to make Oldham's roads safer.

Part of Operation Vortex, the action was carried out from a static base in Chadderton as vehicles were stopped for crimes and offences.

In total, the day's action saw two men arrested, ten vehicles were seized, one stolen vehicle was recovered and 35 traffic offences were reported.

One of the men was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs while the other man was arrested for driving while disqualified.

Both men remain in custody.

The ten vehicles that were seized were all on the basis of people driving without insurance.

Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter, from GMP's Specialist Operations, said: "This will become a regular operation across Greater Manchester, where we will strive to make our communities and roads safer, tackling illegal vehicles which we know that are all too often used in crime and cause harm and misery on the roads.

"I hope this sends a strong message to anyone thinking of breaking the law on our roads, that we are watching, and we won't hesitate to take action to remove you and your vehicle from the road."

The day of action was carried out by the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, officers from GMP's Safer Transport Team, officers from Oldham and the the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Operation Vortex is an operation that GMP Oldham is looking to continue, by focusing on different parts of the borough each month.

Oldham's chief superintendent Chris Bowen said: "Operation Vortex is something we plan to do every month, targeting a different part of the Oldham district each time."

When The Oldham Times spoke to chief superintendent Bowen while on police raids as part of the operation in December, he explained it was about the police putting their foot down.

He said: "Operation Vortex is about taking the fight back to the criminals.

"It's to show the people of Oldham we mean business."

December's Operation Vortex day of action saw police raids in search of drugs and weapons as well as a crack down on driving offences.

On that day, December 3, 2021, 16 vehicles were seized, 13 of which were for driving without insurance and/or a licence, while three had been stolen from different areas of Greater Manchester.