At least 6,891 people in England and Scotland have been fined £60 and - for the first time - had three points added to their licence.

Research by The Press Association revealed that £413,460 is due to be paid in fines - twice what would have been paid under earlier legislation.

But the true figure could be far higher as many forces, including the UK's largest, the Metropolitan Police, did not provide figures.

No figures were also made available by any Welsh force or the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

In an unexpected twist, at least six motorists have been fined under the new law for using their phone while instructing a learner driver.

Police in Cleveland, Dorset and Bedfordshire caught instructors, or experienced motorists directing a learner, using a phone while legally in charge of the vehicle. Furthermore, 17 drivers were fined for not being in proper control of vehicle when using a hands-free kit.

Wiltshire Police confirmed that 82 fixed penalty tickets had been issued since the new legislation came in, with letters of intended prosecution sent to two drivers captured on camera.

On February 27, the fixed-penalty fine for offenders doubled to £60 and those caught also faced three penalty points on their licence for the first time. Courts were also given powers to give a maximum fine of £1,000 or £2,500 in the case of a driver of a bus, coach or goods vehicle.

Diane Ferreira, of Brake, said the penalties were welcome, but did not go far enough. The road safety group has called for fines of up to £1,000 and six penalty points to reflect the danger of using a mobile phone at the wheel.