Police in the borough have warned drivers they face bans if they use their mobile phones at the wheel after catching a woman driver twice for the offence.

A tweet by the North Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team said it is likely the woman, whose image was posted on Twitter, will be disqualified.

It is illegal for a driver to use a handheld mobile phone while driving and the offence carries a fine of £200 and six penalty points. When a person reaches 12 points the law requires Magistrates to disqualify them for at least six months.

The police team stated: "This driver in Richmond has been processed for this previously but hasn't changed their ways and is likely to be disqualified from driving."

The tweet has been viewed more than 65,000 times with many arguing that only tough action against law-breaking drivers, who put other users including pedestrians and cyclists at risk by failing to pay proper attention to the road.

Local safer roads campaigners welcomed the police action and called for a wider crackdown on drivers illegally using mobile phone while driving.

Local safer roads campaigners welcomed the police action and called for a wider crackdown on drivers illegally using mobile phone while driving.

Charlotte Baker, who is co-chair of Richmond Living Streets, which campaigns to make walking the everyday, natural choice in Richmond borough, said: "Thanks for targeting this behaviour - rich pickings in the many traffic jams in your ward I'm afraid!"

The action was also backed by the cycling campaigner, CyclingMikey, who actively targets and reports drivers using mobile phones at the wheel. He claims to have reported 1,369 drivers since 2019, resulting in. 1,798 penalty points and fines totalling more than £100,000.

He argued that warnings are not enough to get drivers to change their ways, saying: "A tiny fraction of people learn if you tell them not to use the phone whilst driving. Most don't. Many people change their ways if you report them to court.

"A few people still carry on after prosecution. A few get banned."