Surrey and Sussex Police are this week cracking down on drivers using their mobile phones in a special campaign.  Those illegally using a mobile at the wheel will be prosecuted as both police forces resolve to cut the number of deaths and injuries on the counties’ roads.  Superintendent Chris Moon said using a phone while driving is one of the biggest causes of fatal and serious crashes on our roads.

The offence can currently lead to 3 penalty points and a fine of £100.  Those refusing to pay could be prosecuted, banned for two years and fined £1,000.  If officers can prove a motorist is driving dangerously while using their phone they can be banned from the road and jailed for up to two years.  New government rules are likely to see fines and points doubling in 2017.

The campaign runs from now until Sunday.

Tandridge District Council will be brought to life in 140 characters when councillors and staff take part in a Tweetathon today.  

The Council will be tweeting using the hashtag #OurDay, to give residents an insight into the variety of jobs carried out by the Council.  

To join in, follow @TandridgeDC on Twitter.

Investigations are underway following a lorry fire at Clacket Lane Services.

Surrey Police believe the fire may have been started deliberately Tuesday evening sometime between 11pm and midnight while the lorry was parked.

The driver was asleep at the time in his cab but escaped unharmed after being woken by a fellow lorry driver.

He was able to unhitch the cab and drive it safely away from the blaze which had engulfed the trailer.

The soft-sided trailer was carrying Christmas decorations and had been completely burnt out.

Police are investigating whether the blaze is linked to other attacks on soft-sided trailers, with reports the curtains are being slashed.

A man from Crawley has been sentenced to four and a half years behind bars for sexual offences involving young girls.

53 year-old Andrew Ward was sentenced last week after being found guilty of three cases of sexual assault on two girls, both aged 11, who were known to him.

Ward was also found guilty of taking an indecent photograph of another girl, aged under 13.

He will be a registered sex offender for life and was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.