An exhausted lorry driver was stopped by police after driving for almost two days without a break.

Officers from Kent Police's Commercial Vehicle Unit pulled the motorist over at the Eurotunnel port in Folkestone at midday today.

An inspection found that the driver had been on the road without taking a single break for 40 hours.

A police spokesman said: "He was reported for summons and received a fine of £1,500 as a court deposit for driving the lorry without taking a break for 40 hours."

EU rules state that anyone driving a goods vehicle must not be behind the wheel for any longer than nine hours in a day, although this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week.

As well as that they cannot drive for more than 56 hours in a week or 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.

And to ensure the safety of everyone on the roads they must take a break totalling at least 45 minutes after no more than four hours and 30 minutes of driving.