The uniformed officers, recruited by the Highways Agency, will not have the power of arrest, but will work with the police to help keep traffic moving.

Their duties will include clearing up debris, dealing with minor collisions and stopping and directing traffic.

The initiative is aimed at freeing up police to concentrate on law enforcement and tackling crime.

The Highways Agency is looking to recruit up to 160 on-road traffic officers and staff to work on a new �5m regional control centre in Wakefield.

Crime prevention

Mark Schofield from the Highways Agency said: "The highly-trained traffic officers are there to work in partnership with the police, as an additional resource on the motorway network.

"They have no powers of arrest but will have the powers they need to carry out their traffic management functions, such as stopping and directing traffic.

"They will also clear debris and deal with minor incidents such as accidents between two cars in which there are no injuries.

"This will leave the police able to concentrate on their core activity, the prevention of crime on the network."

Insp Dave Hammond, of Durham's Road Policing Unit, said: "Any assistance given to our officers on a busy day will be of use to us and if they can relieve the pressure on our officers then it will benefit ourselves, the organisation and the motoring public."