Plenty of queues have been witnessed across Lancashire this week as people lined up in their cars for McDonald's.

The fast food chain has reopened drive thru sites across the country for the first time since the coroanvirus lockdown began.

Hundreds of people have been queuing for miles across Lancashire roads as restaurants reopened in Blackpool, Preston, Burnely, Blackburn, Accrington, Lancaster, Rossendale, Chorley, Pendle, Morecambe, Darwne and Leyland.

McDonald's was quick to remind customers that menus were reduced and waiting times could be longer due to social distancing measures in place - however to help, the food company advised customers to download their app once they're near and to pre-order their food.

However, motorists are now being warned of fines which could occur while doing so.

McDonalds fans queue for the Burnley branch

The Mirror reports ordering food on your phone while in the queue for McDonald's can result in a maximum fine of £1,000 and six points on your licence.

That's because - even though you're on private land and at a halt - you could be breaching rules on using a handset while driving.

Placing orders using the chain's phone app to speed things up could therefore prove an expensive mistake.

According to the RAC guide to mobile online law, it states: "If your engine is running, your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop technology).

As to whether you're safe on private land - any road the public has free access to is covered by the laws.

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis told Mirror Money: “Every driver should always ensure they are parked and have their engine switched off before using a handheld phone – anything else could land them in trouble, even if they are in a car park, drive-thru or petrol forecourt.”

Ordering on your phone could cost you hundreds

The penalty for being caught using a handheld device while driving is six penalty points and a £200 fine.

That means you'll automatically lose your licence if you passed your driving test within the last two years.

If the police think yours is a particularly extreme case you can also be taken to court where you can be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 - rising to £2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or bus.

Of course, it's hard to see this counting as an extreme case, but the penalty is there if the authorities decide to use it.

And while it is incredibly unlikely the police are staking out car parks and drive thrus waiting to pounce on unsuspecting people paying with their phones, it doesn't mean there's no risk.

So far police have been present at the Lancashire McDonald's site to help manage the volume of traffic.

And a passing patrol is well within its rights to fine you and add points to your licence if they see you.

Worse, if there's an accident - say the person behind you in the queue bumping into to you - and the CCTV is looked at you're definitely in trouble.

The easy way to avoid this is to make sure you don't order or pay by phone when queueing for a drive-thu, or get a passenger to do it for you.

If you only discover you've left your wallet at home after you've collected the food, and need to use your phone to pay, you might also be OK if you make sure you pull to the side and turn off your engine.