A MALDON man was arrested yesterday in connection with an assault after being stopped during a road safety operation in Chelmsford.

The 43-year-old man from the Maldon area was arrested after his vehicle was stopped at Boreham services.

He was found to be wanted for questioning in connection with an assault causing actual bodily harm in Maldon in June.

More than 440 vehicles were stopped and checked by police during Operation Surround A Town, which is part of Essex County Council’s three-year No Excuse campaign to tackle motoring offences.

Offenders were identified by officers patrolling in cars or on motorcycles or through Automatic Number Plate technology and vehicles were escorted to check sites at Galleywood Common, Boreham services, off the A12, Victoria Road and Waterhouse Lane.

A widespread search was carried in the Galleywood area after a man drove away then ran off when police attempted to stop his car at Galleywood Road.

The police helicopter and a police dog were involved in searches around the area but the man was not found.

A quantity of drugs, the car and other items were seized for forensic examination.

A total of 113 vehicles were stopped for seatbelt offences, 56 drivers were seen using mobile phones and 41 vehicles had expired MOTs.

Seven vehicles were seized because the drivers were not insured, two drivers had invalid licences, two drivers were stopped for speeding and 39 other motoring offences were detected, including 12 cases of illegally tinted windows although all drivers agreed to remove the tint material before continuing their journeys.