MOTORISTS who use their mobile phone when behind the wheel are the target of a police campaign which was launched today.

The week-long crackdown aims to educate drivers about the risks of using phones and warns of serious consequences if they are caught.

Figures from Merseyside Police show that in the year to March 31, 2014, 4020 drivers were caught using their phones whilst driving, compared to 3608 in the previous year.

Evidence from road safety charity Brake indicates that the number of offences during 2014 nationally has also risen significantly.

Sergeant Dave Williams from the force's Roads policing department said: "More and more of us are using smartphones and for lots of people they are now a way to run their lives which they simply can't live without.

"As a result, it can be hard to switch them off, but this campaign is there to highlight the fact that mobile phones and driving are still a deadly combination and there can be serious consequences if you are caught.

"How people use their phones is also changing rapidly.

"In 2014, the majority of drivers caught had them in their hands rather than to their ears, indicating that more people are now using them to text or update social media rather than to make calls.

"Whatever your use for them though, the potential consequences if you are behind the wheel are stark.

"If you are speaking to someone, texting or updating social media when you are driving, you can't be concentrating on the road and as a result you are four times more likely to have a crash and your driving ability will be similar to if you are over the drink drive limit.

"If all hand-held use of phones in cars was eliminated it's estimated the number of drivers dying on our roads would be cut by more than 10 per cent and we are determined to do everything we can to reduce the number of casualties this type of behaviour causes."