DON’T let your drivers get caught with dirty number plates, it could lead to a £1,000 hole in their pocket.

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist has urged drivers to ensure they have clean number plates on all their road journeys or risk a fine of up to £1000 if their plate can’t be read easily.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said: “A number plate must be readable and not covered by dirt. This is to ensure a vehicle can be identified as and when required.

“Although there is no law against having a dirty car, the law is very clear when it comes to keeping your number plates clear; you risk a £1000 fine if you allow it to become obscured.”

GEM is encouraging drivers to ‘clean their plate’ before every journey to ensure they comply with the law and steer clear of a substantial fine.