A trucker who booted traffic cones out of the way in a road rage incident was spared a driving ban yesterday.

James Gillan, 59, saw red when workers challenged him for going through traffic lights at roadworks on the A66, in County Durham.

Gillan got out of his cab and kicked several cones after the workers complained they had to jump to safety at Tutta Beck, near Barnard Castle, said Martin Towers, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court.

Ray Priest, defending, said that Gillan, an HGV driver since 1976, had nine points on his licence and a ban would cause exceptional hardship.

Gillan escaped disqualification yesterday when the judge decided to impose three penalty points.

Gillan, of Weirwood Avenue, Glasgow, was fined £250 after he pleaded guilty to careless driving on December 11 2001.

A charge of dangerous driving, which he denied, was left on the court file