FIVE people were arrested and almost 200 fines were given out to stop the illegal use of bus routes in Newport city centre.

The arrests and 188 fixed penalty tickets were given out during a two-day operation to stop illegal use of bus routes.

A team of four PCSOs were sponsored by Newport Transport as part of Operation Freeflow, which was launched last month to deal with an increasing number of drivers using these routes to avoid traffic.

Last month, officers from Newport central neighbourhood policing team helped the PCSOs deal with a range of driving offences, mainly in the Stow Hill area.

Bus drivers reported drivers who used the bus routes, particularly in Stow Hill and Skinner Street, which are only supposed to be used for loading and unloading.

PCSO Chris Burge said: “Vehicles can legally use this route into the city centre for the purposes of loading and unloading but many drivers are illegally using the roads as a shortcut and this is what we are trying to stop.”

The operation saw 188 drivers given £30 fixed penalty notices for breaching traffic orders.

Five cars were seized for having no insurance and four people were given £60 fixed penalty notices for not wearing their seatbelt.

One man was arrested for drink driving, two men were arrested for obstructing police, and another two men were arrested for possession of cannabis.

Police have warned that similar operations will take place across the city in the future.

Superintendent Julian Knight added: “I would urge members of the public to respect the traffic regulations and show consideration to all road users.”