WEST Mercia Police has stressed speeding "is a priority", after it was revealed to be among the force’s handing out the most fixed penalty notices to law breakers.

New figures have shown the force handed out 90,203 notices to speeders last year.

And it has also been revealed an individual was caught driving at a staggering 160mph on a road in the region.

The figures, which came from a freedom of information request to force's across the country from car dealership Dick Lovett, cover 2018 and are the latest available.

The 90,203 fines issued are equivalent to one in every 13 people in the force area receiving a notice for speeding.

Last month we also revealed that in West Mercia, camera-detected speed violations led to 6,713 court actions and 44,189 drivers retraining in 2018.

And across England and Wales, speed limit offences were also found to be at their highest level recorded since 2011.

Inspector Lloyd Cresswell from West Mercia Police said: “Roads policing is a high priority for West Mercia Police.

"West Mercia policing area covers three counties and one borough, including a significant motorway network, and is one of the biggest in the UK so it is not surprising our force features towards the top of this list.

“Speed enforcement activity takes place to reduce speeds and ultimately reduce collisions and casualties.

"As highlighted in the data, a number of motorists unfortunately still feel that breaking the speed limit is acceptable and enforcement activity aims to deter this and improve the safety of the roads for all those who use them.”

Sessions of the police's Road Focus campaign were held across the region last week, designed to improve driver behaviour and road safety.

Drop in sessions were also held where people could raise concerns for action to be taken in specific areas.

John Campion, the force's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Too many people are killed and seriously injured on our roads, and this is one of the biggest concerns for our communities.

"The force and I, take this seriously with an all-encompassing approach around enforcement, education and prevention, including a series of events I’ve held as part of my Road Focus campaign, to change behaviours and make roads safer."