THIS car was confiscated - and the owner reported for motoring offences - because it was parked IN A CYCLE LANE.

Officers noticed the vehicle in Taunton's North Street and decided to run a check.

And it turned out the car was sporting 'cloned' number plates, was uninsured and had no road tax - as well as being parked in the cycle lane.

A spokesperson for the Taunton Neighbourhood Policing team said: "There's nothing like drawing attention to your uninsured and untaxed vehicle on cloned number plates by parking in a cycle lane.

"Parking in a cycle lane for 'just two minutes' is still an offence.

"So is driving without insurance and on cloned plates.

"Unfortunately for this driver, their vehicle was seized."

The team also issued advice for other drivers after pulling over a vehicle without a front number plate.

Somerset County Gazette:

The spokesperson added: "Are you missing your front number plate? Don't be surprised if you are pulled over by police. This could result in a full inspection of your vehicle which could then lead to a vehicle prohibition.

"The handbrake in this particular vehicle had excessive travel and wasn't holding it, meaning it could be pushed with the handbrake on.

"It had also been lowered and the wheel arches were rubbing on the tyres, causing damage to them.

"This vehicle will not be driven any further until the defects are rectified. The driver has been reported for motoring offences."