WILTSHIRE drivers have been issued with a warning from police that from December 1 it will be an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

The Department of Transport has approved the new laws in response to concerns about safety when people drive and talk on the phone at the same time.

Drivers committing the new offence can expect a fixed penalty notice of £30 or a fine of up to £1,000 on conviction in court.

Drivers of lorries, buses or coaches could face a fine of £2,500 if convicted in court.

Wiltshire Police road safety officer Sergeant Dave Melvin said: "Quite simply, using hand-held mobile phones and driving are two activities that cannot be performed safely at the same time.

"Driving today requires all of your attention all of the time. It is nonsense for people to claim that they can control their vehicles safely while using a hand-held mobile phone.

"Increased ownership of mobile phones in recent years has unfortunately led to more and more people using them while driving. The safest thing to do is to turn the phones off and collect messages for later."