NEARLY 5,000 motorists in Greater Manchester have been fined for using mobile phones while driving.

Now police are stepping up their campaign to rid the mobile phone menace from the road.

The warning comes on the first anniversary of new legislation which made it illegal for motorists to use hand held mobile phones.

The new law was introduced 12 months ago and since then a total of 9,604 £30 fixed penalty notices have been issued by police throughout the north west - 4,648 of these alone in Greater Manchester.

But police and road safety experts in the north west are convinced that the new legislation has helped reduce accidents, deaths and injury.

Today, a new campaign will be launched to remind motorists of the new legislation. And drivers will be given the opportunity to take a "reaction" test in a road safety trailer while using a mobile phone.

Greater Manchester Police Road Safety Inspector Brian Wood will be sending a clear signal on safety with a 6ft mock mobile phone bearing the message: "Switch it off - missing a call wont kill you."

He said: "You are four times more likely to be involved in an accident when using a mobile phone while driving and the new legislation has helped make our roads safer.

"It is not just your own life that you take into your hands when you use your mobile phone at the wheel. Its all those innocent people around you.

"Clearly, the message has not got through to all motorists. For their own safety and that of other road users, motorists must stop using their phone while driving."