A ‘RECKLESS’ driver who drove at speeds of more than 140mph on the M65 has been slammed for putting lives at risk.

Officers clocked the AMG Mercedes travelling at speeds of 131mph and 142mph - more than double the legal limit - on the Darwen stretch of the motorway.

The incident happened in the early hours of Monday morning and officers said the male driver of the Mercedes will now face court action.

He was not arrested at the scene and officers were unable to legally seize the car.

But officers slammed the man for putting his life at risk, the lives of officers and the lives of other road users.

As well as posting photographs of the offending motorist's speeds, the Lancashire Road Police also Tweeted: “M65 Darwen. Driving at these speeds is not acceptable, it puts everyone at risk including us. Driver reported and will have to answer to the courts.

“Unfortunately the necessity criteria for arrest was not met and we had no power to seize the car. We don’t seize vehicles for speeding/dangerous drive offences.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s highways boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “This kind of behaviour is absolutely reckless. It clearly put both the driver and other road users in serious danger. Somebody could have easily been killed.”

Cllr Roy Davies, the Mayor of Darwen Town Council, said: “He should be locked up and they should throw away the key. For anybody to travel at that speed - twice the legal limit - is absolutely ridiculous.

“There is no way on earth anybody can justify going at that speed. I am baffled by it. It is absolutely appalling.”

People also took to social media to criticise the driver’s actions.

Derek Gallagher posted: “Sixty three meters per second, How the hell can they react on a public road at that speed.”

Philip Robert Davies Tweeted: “In my humble opinion as a professional driver, people like this should lose their vehicle on the spot, that is just suicidal.”