WILTSHIRE Police have promised to get tough on motorists who talk on their mobile phones while driving.

This week police in Manchester launched a massive clampdown on mobile phone abusers fining more than 500 motorists.

Wiltshire has no current plans for a similar operation, but officers warned that legislation outlawing drivers from using hand-held sets would be enforced.

The force's road safety officer Sergeant Dave Melvin, said: "Using a hand held mobile telephone and driving are two activities that cannot be performed safely at the same time.

"Driving requires all your attention all of the time, not all your attention some of the time.

"It's nonsense for people to claim that they can control their vehicle while using a hand held phone.

"We will enforce this on a daily basis as part of our responsibilities when we are on patrol.

"It is clear that new law has had a dramatic effect on people using hand held

mobile telephones, but we

do still regularly see

abuse."

Using a hand held mobile telephone while driving became illegal in December.

At the moment people caught breaking the law can be fined up to a £1,000.

But Sgt Melvin warned that the Government plans to make the offence endorsable with up to three penalty points.

"We would advise all motorists to keep their phones switched off when they are driving and use voice mail or a messaging service," Sgt Melvin said.

"The only circumstances where you can drive and talk is in the case of a real emergency."

Sgt Melvin said there are no laws outlawing the use of hands free mobiles, but said they are discouraged as a distraction.