Police say more than 50 drivers will be prosecuted after they drove in motorway lanes that had been temporarily closed.

Police and highways officers were forced to close two lanes on Saturday afternoon due to flooding.

There was standing water on the M25 carriageway near junction 20 for Kings Langley at around 5pm.

Drivers were alerted to the closure of two lanes by live red 'X' signs which appeared on the motorway gantry.

The X signs meant the lanes were closed and drivers were not allowed to travel in them.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire road policing unit says one of its marked vehicles was parked near one of the red 'X' signs but that did not stop more than 50 drivers ignoring the sign.

This morning, the policing unit tweeted: "These letters are being sent out today after more than 50 drivers contravened a red "x" signal in front of a marked Police vehicle on the M25 yesterday.

"The signs were set due to flooding following heavy rain. Drivers will be identified and prosecuted."

It is not the first time drivers have been caught out at this junction on the M25.

In December 2018, more than 300 drivers were spotted ignoring the red X sign which was in place due to a diesel spillage.

Watford Observer:

A diesel spillage in 2018. The gantry shows three lanes closed in total. Credit: Highways England

According to the RAC, drivers who ignore red X signs can face fines of £100 and three penalty points on their licences.