A man was stopped by traffic police after they caught him EATING CEREAL at the wheel.

The driver was one of dozens pulled over for motoring offences during a crackdown on road safety.

Greater Manchester Police stopped 142 people for using a phone while driving after the operation was launched last week.

Officers targeted main routes around the region and educated people on the dangers of using a mobile phone behind the wheel. Three commuters were given a verbal warning by police.

The man who had been eating the cereal while driving along Manchester Road in Hyde was given the option of points, a course or a court appearance.

Police stopped 111 cars, 32 vans and three HGVs during the operation last week.

GMP figures show the majority of offenders were men, with 123 male drivers stopped overall. During the 'Wrong For The Road' crackdown, 127 people stopped were over the age of 25.

Supt Craig Thompson said: “Last week was just the beginning of our focus on these offences over the coming weeks and send a clear message to anyone using a mobile phone while driving – it will absolutely not be tolerated here in Greater Manchester and it must stop.

“As Chief Constable Hopkins said last week, it is time for drivers to take personal responsibility for what they do when in charge of a vehicle.

“You wouldn’t drink and drive so why is it okay to use a phone when in control of a vehicle? We can all make a difference by urging people to think about their actions.”

In 2017, new penalties are being introduced which will see drivers being given six points on their licence and a £200 on the spot fine for using a phone while driving.

More than 5,000 drivers in Greater Manchester have been given fixed penalty notices or sent on a mobile phone awareness course in the past two years.

GMP have also been raising awareness of the issue through social media, using the hashtag #wrongfortheroad.

Anyone with details of persistent offenders who are driving and using their mobile should contact local officers or call 101 with details.