Police catch the bus to spot drivers on the phone

Police in Cambridge have taken a novel approach to spotting drivers on the phone

Police have been taking the bus to catch motorists who are using mobile phones while driving.

Officers spent time on a double-decker sightseeing bus in Cambridge to spot drivers illegally using their phones at the wheel.

Three drivers were stopped and given tickets, with a minimum penalty of a £200 fine and six penalty points. Other drivers were "given words of advice".

PC Jake Weldon said he hoped the operation would send a message "that we simply could be anywhere, so don’t take the risk and use your phone while driving".

The team who went on the lookout for drivers using their mobile phones

"If you are on your phone, whether hands-free or not, you are far less likely to notice unexpected things like a child stepping off the pavement or a car braking suddenly in front of you," he said.

"A big thank-you to the team at Stagecoach who supported this operation by providing the double-decker bus and a driver for us."