DROITWICH drivers are continuing to flout seat belt laws despite ardent campaigning by police.

South Worcestershire traffic cops have pulled over more than 150 people in the past fortnight who have not bothered to belt up.

Senior officers have voiced disappointment that this year's West Mercia campaign to highlight the dangers of not wearing a belt, has been ignored.

The force dropped a dummy from a height of 30ft to show the devastating consequences of having a crash at 30mph while not wearing a seatbelt.

In the past 12 months, five of 20 people, who died in collisions within the division, may have been saved if they had been wearing a seat belt. That equates to a staggering 20 per cent of people killed in local road smashes.

Despite this fatal figure, 153 people across Droitwich Spa, Malvern, Worcester, Evesham and Pershore have recently been pulled over and fined £30 for breaking the law.

Supt Rod Reynolds said: "At just 30mph, an unrestrained child becomes a 3.5 tonne weight and at this velocity either goes through the windscreen or crushes the front seat driver or passenger. Yet despite these startling facts being publicised only a matter of weeks ago still the message is not getting through."

He said cops would be cracking down on drivers and passengers, who could face fines between £30 and £500.