Cumbria Constabulary caught more than a dozen drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel during a five-day road safety operation.

Codenamed Op Tramline, last week's campaign saw officers using a specially equipped HGV to detect motoring offences from an elevated vantage point.

The crackdown comes during the month-long national Fatal Four campaign, which targets the four common factors in serious and deadly road accidents: speeding, mobile phone usage while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

The operation resulted in the detection of 31 offences.

These included; 14 mobile phone offences, two instances of speeding, two individuals over the limit for drink or drugs, three for no insurance, one driving without due care, one disqualified driver, two motorists driving with no MOT, two vehicles without tax, three other Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), and one instance following a road traffic collision.

The operation was conducted in tandem with National Highways.

Sergeant Jack Stabler of Cumbria Constabulary said: "We are fortunate to have secured use of the vehicle during the national Fatal Four campaign, helping us to further target those drivers whose behaviour behind the wheel is putting people’s lives at risk.

"The majority of the offences identified were people making a conscious decision to put their own well-being and the well-being of other road users at risk – from choosing to reach for their phone whilst driving to making the decision to get behind the wheel whilst disqualified."

“Cumbria Police, via its Roads Policing Unit, will continue to target such drivers as we work with our partners to help make the county’s roads as safe as they can possibly be for everyone.”

The Constabulary plans to conduct further Op Tramline operations in the future to apprehend drivers wilfully putting themselves and others at risk.

Using a handheld mobile device for any reason, including lighting the screen, checking time or notifications, making or rejecting calls or accessing any data, while driving is illegal in the UK.

If caught, individuals can face penalties of a £200 fine and six points on their licence.