A driver has been slapped with a fine after he was caught in an overloaded flatbed van with a heavy item tied to it by just two "thin rubber cords".

The man was pulled over near the A20, north of Maidstone, yesterday morning after his dangerous vehicle was spotted leaving debris scattered across the road.

The van was 40% overweight when police measured the load which contained a roll weighing more than 300kg that was tied loosely to the vehicle.

A police spokesman said: "The vehicle was found to be overloaded and the driver, a man in his 60s, was issued with a £300 fine and had three points added to his licence."

The Kent Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU) tweeted after the incident at 10am yesterday.

Officers said the van also had an "insecure load", materials were "seen falling off", and two "thin rubber cords" had been holding a roll onto it weighing more than 300kg.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone