DORSET Police's No Excuse team has revealed the top five terrible explanations from people caught using their phones at the wheel.

One driver showed a failure to grasp the mechanics of using apps when they told police: "I wasn't using my phone, officers – I was using Snapchat."

Another probably believed they were making an excellent point when they said: "Well, I wouldn't have used my mobile if I knew there were officers in an unmarked police vehicle behind me."

Officers stopped one motorist who thought they'd got off the hook with their argument: "I didn't have my phone in my hand – I wedged it under my chin, actually."

A dedicated slimmer pulled over by the team said: "I was just putting my calories into my iPhone app."

In an unusual case, police stopped a distracted driver who promptly said: "Sorry, I didn't see you. I was reading a letter."

As reported, the county's speeding drivers often had just as many bad excuses, including one who said: "Surely me driving a BMW must count for something, officer."