A driver armed with a machete was arrested after police pulled over his car in a routine traffic operation.

The 42-year-old man was stopped for driving an uninsured vehicle in Mitcham town centre by officers from Sutton and Merton police on Wednesday.

Police took him into custody after finding the 2ft blade and a lock knife in his car.

He has been bailed until early September pending further investigation.

Ten drivers in Sutton and Merton had their cars seized for being uninsured during a crackdown between 8am and 10pm on Wednesday.

Officers monitored automatic number plate recognition cameras and manned roadside checkpoints in both Sutton and Mitcham town centres.

A further 18 drivers were reported for other driving offences, including driving whilst using a hand-held phone, not wearing a seatbelt and not having an MOT.

Inspector Joanne Flynn, who runs Sutton and Merton’s safer transport teams, said the operations would continue until drivers get the message that they will be caught if they flout the law.

He said: “Residents tell us that they want action to keep our roads safe and that is exactly what we are doing with these regular operations.

“Traffic operations help to disrupt criminal activities because there is a proven link between motoring offences and other types of crime."

Uninsured drivers face a £300 fine, six points on their licence and the additional costs of recovering their vehicle from the police car pound once they have obtained the correct insurance.

Further operations are planned but police would not reveal precise locations for "operational reasons".