GWENT drivers are still flouting the law and using their mobile phones on the road despite facing hefty penalties.

In March last year, the penalty for being caught using a mobile phone while driving was upped from a £30 fine to a £60 fine and three penalty points on the offender's licence.

But new figures suggest these national measures did not deter mobile users in Gwent in 2007.

Before the new law was introduced in March, 215 people were caught offending and another 1,192 given the new fixed penalty throughout the rest of the year.

In total, 1,407 people were caught using their mobile phones over 2007, up from the 1,403 caught in 2006.

Chief inspector for road safety at Gwent police, John Pavett labelled the results as "very disappointing" and admitted he had hoped for a lower number of offenders by now.

He said: "Despite our best efforts to raise awareness, people still seem surprised to have points on their licence.

"The change only came in last March so we are still in the early stages and it is too soon to judge."

Inspector Pavett hopes to bring in more campaigns over the coming year to help raise further awareness of the current penalties.

The campaigns will involve police going out in unmarked cars so that offenders are unaware of their presence.

Inspector Pavett said: "I think the three penalty points is a strong deterrent as there is a fear or losing your license and the extra cost of insurance.

"It just takes time to get that message across."

The new figures come after Gwent police booked more mobile phone offenders than any other Welsh authority in last year's launch campaign for the new penalties.

Drivers in Gwent accounted for 263 of the 563 offenders that were booked throughout Wales during the two-week campaign in March.