DRIVERS caught using their mobile phones while travelling on Halton's roads will NOT face immediate prosecution, it has been announced.

However, if traffic officers believe their driving could put lives in danger they will be booked immediately and issued with a fixed penalty ticket.

Cheshire's Chief Constable Peter Fahy warned: 'It is already an offence to be driving a car without proper control.

'There is no question that the use of mobile phones is dangerous. We will not be giving any grace if people are driving without due care and attention, they can expect to get fixed penalty tickets and fines.

'However, over the next two months there will be a bedding-in period as people wake up to the provisions of the new legislation.

'During this time, providing lives are not being put at risk, we will offer advice rather than prosecution.

'Lots of our collisions are about losses of concentration when driving. Mobile phones, changing CDs, or just concentrating on a conversation with the person sitting next to them can detract a person from driving a car. My advice is for drivers to concentrate on driving carefully.'

The new law banning the use of mobile phones while driving, unless a hands-free kit is fitted to the car, began on Monday.

Within two hours, a woman had been arrested in Dundee city centre. Scottish police are taking a much harder stance than their English counterparts and have warned drivers there will be no period of grace.