A prominent Cumbrian flood recovery expert has been given a 28 day driving ban for doing almost twice the speed limit in a 40mph zone.

Paul Hendy, 67, has been a leading figure in helping local flood victims bounce back from the disasters that hit first Carlisle in 2005 and wider areas of the county in the wake of Storm Desmond in December 2015.

At the city's Rickergate magistrates court, Hendy admitted speeding on the A66 at Kirkby Thore near Penrith on Boxing Day.

The court heard that a speed camera clocked Hendy's Audi doing 73mph at 8.20am in an area of the village with a 40mph limit.

On the day in question, December 26, the defendant was visiting his children and was then on the way to Scotland, again in response to flooding.

It was also near the anniversary of the Carlisle floods of 2015, so memories of that disaster came back. He said he was under a lot of stress at the time.

Barrister Paul Green, for Hendy, said the defendant travelled more than 60,000-miles a year, and this was his first appearance in a court.

Magistrates were then told that Hendy does a lot of charity work - including in the past for the city's hospice. A driving ban would have a great effect on his job in flood recovery, said Mr Green.

His work in this area – particularly in Carlisle - was widely regarded as “exemplary”, magistrates heard. They were given a raft of written character references.

Mr Green explained that his client has undertaken a driving course which he paid for himself and taken medical advice on his stress levels.

The barrister went on to say that Hendy, whose address was given as The Pack, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle, had done a lot of work for local people in the wake of both the major floods which affected Carlisle and Cumbria.

“He had a massive role in the recovery for the victims of the devastating floods,” said Mr Green. “He was brought in by Cumbria County Council to assist residents, and helped set-up the flood advice centre.

“He helped almost 500-residents without insurance cover to get assistance, and helped set up the Community Emergency Plan for the area.”

After deliberating on the case for 30-minutes magistrates told Hendy he had driven through the village at an excessive speed.

Given that he was travelling at almost twice the speed limit, they felt a disqualification had to be imposed. In addition, they imposed a £650 fine along with prosecution costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £65.

Earlier this year, Hendy, from the Carlisle Flood Advice Centre. spoke publicly about the way in which many flood victims across the county were continuing to suffer, with around 200 not having been able to return to their homes.