Traffic police who pulled over a motorist attempting to peer through a severely damaged windscreen have expressed astonishment on social media.

The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) said the Volkswagen driver was facing court action after being brought to a halt in Stoke-on-Trent.

Several Twitter users replied to an official CMPG post by asking what the male driver had hit, while another joked that the man should have removed the screen and worn goggles.

The CMPG tweet accompanying two pictures of the damaged screen described the late-night incident as beyond belief.

The tweet added: “We’ve just stopped this vehicle in @Policingstoke he didn’t think it was too much of a problem.

“Vehicle prohibited from being driven any further, driver reported. Nope still can’t believe it.”

Around four hours after the incident, the CMPG made further reference to the unusual stop after dealing with another errant driver.

A CMPG officer tweeted: “Vehicle stopped in the @Policingstoke area driver had no licence or insurance, (but it did have a intact windscreen). Car seized and driver reported.”