Almost 150 drivers were caught using their mobile phones at the wheel in a joint operation by Surrey and Sussex Police.

The five-day operation took place between 13 and 17 of November on the M23 and A23 in Sussex and the M25 and A3 in Surrey.

Of the 224 drivers stopped, 148 had been using phones to some degree.

Sgt Dan Pascoe from Surrey Police said: “The number of people we stopped in just one week is staggering.”

“All of these drivers chose to put lives at risk,” he added.

Police say 10 people were arrested during the operation for various offences.

The action was part of Operation Tramline, a national road safety project using unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and police cars to identify driving offences.

Among those stopped for using their phones, 122 drivers were given six points on their licences and fined £200.

Others were given summons or fixed penalty notices.

Sussex Police said the most common offences logged by the operation were mobile phone use, seat belt offences and drivers not being in proper control of their vehicles.

During November’s operation, other offences including drug driving were also logged.

“We want to remind all drivers that we can’t be everywhere, but we could be anywhere,” Sgt Pascoe said.