Kent has seen a whopping 70-fold increase in the number of drivers caught behind the wheel while disqualified.

They have gone from just three cases in 2010 to 206 in 2016.

So far this year, 25 people have been caught driving while disqualified - that's more than the total number for 2010, 2011 and 2012, which altogether stands at 18.

If you're caught driving or attempting to whilst banned then it'll land you six points on your licence, which will stay on record for four years from the offence date.

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Chief Inspector Tony Dyer said: "I think (the rise) it's down to more informed policing and we are a lot better engaged with the public now, so people can speak to us easily whether it's by phone or social media or going into police stations.

"We also work very closely with the DVLA so they will tell us in advance if people have had licences removed and I would suggest that is why we are seeing more people prosecuted is because we are targeting the right people."

The biggest jump since 2010 was between 2012 and 2013, where there was a 17 fold increase from nine cases to 155.

Since then, the number has gradually risen by an average of 18 a year.

Drivers can be disqualified/banned from driving if they are convicted of a driving offence, for example drink or drug driving.

If a motorist reaches 12 or more points on their licence within three years, they are taken off the road for between six months and two years, depending on if a previous disqualification has taken place within three years.

However, figures for driving while disqualified increase when looking at the total number of offences, rather than number of drivers who committed the offence.

This means that, in some cases, drivers have committed the same offence more than once in any one year.

The total number of drivers caught behind the wheel when disqualified stands at 784 since 2010, and the total number of cases at 910.

However, due to cutting of expired endorsements, the BA10 offence Code in some cases will no longer be on the case prior to February 2013, which may be a reason why figures between 2010 and 2012 and noticeably lower.