POLICE in Somerset became suspicious when they noticed this car's number plates spattered with mud.

Officers believed it was a ruse by the occupants to prevent police identifying the vehicle.

But members of Avon and Somerset Police's road policing unit were not duped.

They pulled over the vehicle, which was "swiftly abandoned" by the occupants, raising suspicions that the driver was banned.

A spokesperson for the unit took to social media to say: "Vehicle spotted by (officers) who felt that the artfully placed mud on front and rear number plates was a tad suspicious.

"They were right!

"Swiftly abandoned by occupants, strongly suspected to have been disqualified driver at the wheel so seized."