NEARLY 250 drivers a day have been fined for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving since laws were toughened one month ago.

At least 6,891 people in England and Scotland have been fined £60 and – for the first time – had three points added to their licence.

Research by The Press Association revealed that £413,460 is due to be paid in fines – twice what would have been paid under earlier legislation.

But the true figure could be far higher as many forces, including the UK’s largest, the Metropolitan Police, did not provide figures.