A DRIVER caught speeding at a breakneck 140mph on the new A500 bypass has led to a warning to motorists to curb their speeds.

The safety message comes just three weeks after the opening of the Basford-Hough-Shavington dual carriageway that has a speed limit of 70mph, with another speeding motorist clocked at 102mph.

"In a two-hour period last week, officers from our traffic unit photographed more than 30 motorists driving at speeds in excess of 85mph on the new sections of the A500," said Chief Inspector Robin Crorie.

"One motorist will be appearing at South Cheshire Magistrates Court next month summonsed for driving at 102mph and incredibly, another has been recorded driving at 140mph." These people either have extremely poor driving skills, or are just intentionally stupid.

"Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable, has recently highlighted, with the support of the press, the need to reduce road deaths in this county, many of which can be attributed to excessive speed.

He added: "Therefore I have no qualms about prosecuting anyone driving on the A500 at these ridiculous speeds - they certainly can't claim "police are persecuting the motorist".

"This is not a motorway: the A500 can lawfully be used by pedestrians, cyclists and learner drivers (and) at these speeds, no driver will be able to stop in time."