A company boss who accelerated to 100mph in his Audi to pass three cars at Low Bradley has been handed a 28-day driving ban.

Stephen Greenwood, 61, who was also fined £500, activated a police safety camera stationed on the A629 at 6.40pm on June 1, Skipton magistrates heard.

Greenwood, who admitted speeding, told the court it had been a very difficult day at work as his company was at the start of a rescue plan and had just had to make people redundant.

He said he had been in the process of overtaking the three slow-moving cars on a straight stretch when the leading car decided to speed up. He said he could not move back into the line of traffic and had no option but to accelerate to get past while the road was still clear.

Greenwood, of Keighley Road in Steeton, added it had been an error of judgement and asked magistrates not to ban him from driving because of the impact on his company at a difficult time.

But magistrates said they had no option but to impose a ban. He will also have to pay £85 costs.