AROUND 8,000 vehicles were checked in an effort to target criminals involved in the theft or handling of stolen metals.

Police have hailed the crackdown as a "huge success" after working alongside other agencies in a major road check at Aylesford, near Maidstone on Monday.

Automatic number plate recognition technology was used to check the vehicles in Station Road.

Around 50 were stopped and police made seven arrests for various offences.

Eight vehicles were seized for their use in connection with crime, for having no licence or no road tax, according to police.

Supt Steve Corbishley said: "Not only did police seize a quantity of silver and other metals from one of the vehicles we stopped, which we will now be investigating further, but we also gained valuable intelligence, through our work with partner agencies.

"Our robust approach will continue."