Police have seized a quantity of illegal 'red diesel' in Blyth.

Officers arrested two men on Thursday 21st June, when they stopped a van on Cowpen Road. The van was checked by staff of HMRC and was found to be using red diesel, the vehicle was seized and towed away from the scene.

Later that day officers searched the men’s homes and a business premise, where they found a number of drums of the illegal diesel, siphoning equipment and two more vehicles, a DAF HGV tractor and an Audi car, both of which contained the illegal fuel.

The Audi owner was issued with a £510 on the spot fine for the use of illegal fuel in a private vehicle.

The two men, aged 30 and 35, have been bailed pending further enquiries.