Duchess caught speeding at 111mph on motorway

The Duchess of Bedford has escaped a driving ban after being caught speeding at 111mph on the M74 between Gretna and Ecclefechan.

The 54-year-old was fined £500 and had five points added to her licence.

She appeared personally before the Sheriff at Dumfries as Louise Bedford, of Woburn Abbey, Milton Keynes, and admitted committing the offence on 8 August last year.

The court was told that police had followed her after seeing her average 96.2mph but they were held up by traffic, and when they caught up again they registered the speed at 111 mph.

The solicitor for the Duchess, appealing against any ban, said that she had three points on her licence but he stressed that she was involved in seventeen charities which involved many miles of travelling.