MOTORISTS across East Lancashire are still ignoring the law and making calls while behind the wheel.

And today Lancashire police warned motorists who are dialling while driving that they are stepping up the anti-mobile phone campaign.

Officers from the Road Policing Unit said although the practice was outlawed last year, drivers across East Lancashire continue to flout the law and use hand-held mobile phones while driving.

During the first six months of the ban, 863 motorists were fined for using hand-held mobiles at the wheel.

And the RAC estimates that at least 500,000 people across the country are on their phones while driving at any one time.

Sergeant Keith Jackson, from the unit said: "We are going to step up the enforcement of the law against using hand-held phones while driving because drivers are not taking any notice of the warnings given.

"People don't realise the consequences of using the phone and being distracted from the road. We have been called to accidents that were caused as a direct result of people using their phone and driving. Some of which were extremely serious."

According to research carried out by the RAC Legal Services, more than a third of drivers surveyed said they still make calls while driving even though there is a four-time increase in crashing if you are on the phone. One in 10 also admitted to texting while driving.

Currently the police can issue offenders with a fixed penalty notice of £30 but if they can prove the driver was acting without due care and attention drivers can get a £60 fine, three points on their licence and even be called to appear before magistrates.

Sgt Jackson added: "The £30 fine does not seem to be enough of a deterrent but our message is that even using a hands free kit means the driver's attention is taken from the road ahead."

Mark Hodge, from RAC Legal Services said: "This is something we suspected was happening but our research proves the shocking number of drivers flouting the law."