Drivers caught using mobiles at the wheel face three points on their licence and a £60 fine

A couple claim to have photographed Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson talking on his mobile phone while driving.

Adam Blake, 22, and Hayley Byford, 21, say they saw Jeremy Clarkson on the phone as he did 70mph in a rare 1970s 6.3-litre green, left-hand drive Mercedes 600 Grosser V8 on the M40 in Oxfordshire.

Mr Blake told the Daily Mirror: "We could not believe that we'd caught him out. I used to watch him every week on Top Gear and he was always banging on about the new driving laws.

"My girlfriend saw he was on his mobile. She grabbed hers and took a picture of him."

The newspaper claimed it later confronted Top Gear star Clarkson at his Chipping Norton home where he first denied being in the car and, on seeing the picture, said: "Er, that isn't a phone."

Clarkson then reportedly said: "Look, I write a column for another newspaper. I'm not allowed to talk to you."

View our larger shot of Clarkson reportedly 'driving while on his mobile'

Jeremy Clarkson is one of Britain’s favourite personalities. Famed for his outspoken views and political incorrectness, the Top Gear star, author and newspaper columnist has captured the nation’s heart.

He has a Facebook group dedicated to him being installed as Prime Minister – with more than 290,000 people joining the group.

And when his old Ford Escort Cosworth appeared on Auto Trader, more than 100,000 people read our exclusive story.

He was also named as one of Britain’s wittiest personalities last year, finishing fourth behind Oscar Wilde, Spike Milligan and Stephen Fry.

Despite his love of fast cars and the nature of his job on the Emmy-winning Top Gear, Clarkson still has a clean driving license.

Jezza has raved about his vintage Mercedes 600 Grosser, which he received as a Christmas present in his two newspaper columns.

In past Clarkson described the 37-year old luxury V8 as a car with more soul than a modern cars and fitted with ‘so many (ornaments) it could be twinned with Elton John’s head’.

Clarkson also added “the only thing that didn’t come standard – but I shall be adding them as soon as I’ve designed them – are two flags on the front wings’.

But the multi-million copy selling author has had a torrid time getting the car on the road, with the Merc incurring problem after problem from issues with the carburettor to the battery.

Drivers caught using mobiles at the wheel face three points on their licence and a £60 fine.