More than 100 vehicles were stopped during an operation to test security measures at Stansted Airport ahead of the Olympic Games.

Essex Police joined forces with officials from various district councils and the DVLA yesterday to undertake an operation to test security activities that will be in place ahead, during and immediately after the event.

A total of 118 vehicles were stopped during a six-hour operation, codenamed Mink, which is a record for any operation at the airport.

Six motorists were issued with fixed penalty notices for a variety of motoring offences, while a further two drivers were issued with a total of £200 in fines and had their licences endorsed with penalty points.

Three drivers were forced to remove their excessively tinted windows, 16 taxi drivers were dealt with for infringement offences by council officials, and 18 coaches were stopped with five drivers warned about the length of time they had been on the road.

Ian Coleman, Stansted Airport’s neighbourhood policing inspector, co-ordinated the operation.

He said: "We wanted to send a stark, clear message to people who are contemplating posing a security threat to the airport or to the Games – don’t.

“You run the risk of missing the biggest sporting event this country has ever laid on as you will be in a police cell.

“Our tactics will be to cause a nuisance to anyone intent on causing a security threat while at the same time providing a reassuring, visible deterrent to law-abiding holidaymakers and business executives using Stansted.”