Drivers in the Wheatley area are being warned to belt up and switch off their mobiles as police officers stage a series of crackdowns in the area.

Last Wednesday, January 30, two constables and two PCSOs stopped four drivers in an hour using handheld phones while driving in Stadhampton. Two people were issued with £60 fixed penalty notices.

The previous week, several other locations were targeted and three people received penalty notices for using phones, and two drivers were given £30 fixed penalty notices for not using seatbelts.

Pc Paul Gregory said: "These types of offences are commonly brought to the attention of neighbourhood police teams by residents in rural areas, during routine consultation. We will continue to mount operations of this nature to deal with offenders in the Wheatley area."

PCSO Ken Cooney added: "During these operations there will be "spotters" reporting any drivers not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone to police officer colleagues nearby who will then stop and deal with the drivers.

"These operations will be a frequent occurrence throughout the area and will not be publicised beforehand."

Neighbourhood action groups are in the process of being set up in Wheatley and Chalgrove. The first stage of public consultation has been carried out and the groups are set to be launched in the near future.

A list of policing priorities for the areas will subsequently be drawn up based on issues members of the public have highlighted.