Drivers in South Worcestershire are sticking up two fingers - and a mobile - at the law by using a phone while driving.

The number of offenders caught and fined has trebled in the five months to August 31, according to figures released this week.

At the same time, the number of drivers fined for not wearing seatbelts increased by more than half over the same period.

Between April 1 and August 31, 2,273 motorists were fined for one or other offence - an average of almost 15 offences a day in South Worcestershire.

Eight drivers a day - one every three hours - are being handed £30 on-the-spot fines for one or other of the offences.

In April 2004, 37 drivers were fined for using their mobile at the wheel.

In April this year that figures soared to 135. Similarly in August the figure rose from 54 last year to 200 in August this year.

In April last year 216 motorists were penalised for not using seat belts, but this increased to 419 in April this year.

In August, the figure rose from 180 in 2004 to 301 this year.

In the five month period 2,273 motorists were fined at a cost to them of £68,190.

Richard Bull of South Worcestershire police said: Motorists using mobile phones are known to be a major contributor to collisions and therefore are a key focus for us in terms of reducing careless and dangerous driving.

"We also take the flouting of seat belt regulations extremely seriously as these often result in drivers and passengers being far more seriously injured than would have been the case had belts been correctly worn.

"Additionally, while there is no strictly traceable link between mobile phone offences and seat belt offences, some incidents caused by the first can be compounded by the second."