POLICE carrying out speed checks in a New Forest village caught a driver travelling at almost 80mph in a 30mph zone.

The motorist was more than two-and-a-half times the speed limit as they passed the Co-op store in Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst.

Totton-based roads policing officers carried out checks at Ashurst on two consecutive days.

Posting on social media New Forest Heart Cops said: "On both evenings they issued several tickets to drivers speeding over the 30mph limit. One driver was stopped for doing 79mph! They will of course be going to court."

Lyndhurst Road is part of the A35 - one of the main east-west routes through the Forest.

Several people have commented on the post, with one describing the speed recorded by the officers as "horrendous".

Another described Southampton Road - part of the Lyndhurst section of the A35 - as "like living in Le Mans on race day".

Others called for speed enforcement to be carried out elsewhere in the district, including Calmore, Breamore and Netley Marsh.