Nearly 1,500 motorists in Gloucestershire were caught in the past 12 months illegally using mobile phones while driving, new figures show.

Police said 47 cyclists were found to be riding without lights and 45 were stopped for riding on pavements.

No information was yet available on how many drivers had been caught flouting the new child booster seat law, which came into effect on 18 September.

But 19 children were found to be riding in front or back seats without a belt.

Traffic officer Inspector Charlie Laporte said: "Members of the public should realise these laws are there to protect them and protect others.

"They shouldn't need a police officer breathing down their necks telling them what to do.

"However, it is clearly difficult as we don't have police officers on every street corner looking out for these things."

Why does that not surprise me.

I see dozens of people a week driving on their mobiles, with no powers to do anything about them!

Ditto...

Try stopping them on a horse