A CARELESS driver who fitted his car with blue lights and a siren in a bid to turn it into a fake ambulance has been ordered to pay more than £1,000.

Magistrates heard police were called by staff at the Tyne Tunnel, who were concerned at the speed the vehicle - with blue lights flashing - was travelling through rush hour traffic.

Officers made inquiries with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), who said they had no record of one of their vehicles being in the area at the time.

An investigation was launch and, following close partnership between the police, NEAS and tunnel operator TT2 Limited, the driver was identified as Shaun Scandle.

Officers visited the 31-year-old and found his white Renault Megane had been covered in emergency livery to make it look like a rapid response vehicle.

They also discovered that he ran a business called Hadrian Medical Services which offered first aid at events across the North-East for which he used the vehicle.

On this occasion he had been providing first aid for the Tour of Britain cycle race and was travelling to Blyth to attend a medical incident which he had been called to.

Scandle, of Priestpopple, Hexham, was charged with careless driving on September 9.

He changed his plea to guilty at the hearing, to escape a lengthy driving ban.

Scandle was ordered to pay £1,068 in a fine and costs had nine points on his licence when he appeared at North Shields Magistrates Court.

A/Sgt Alan Keenleyside, of the Operations Department, said: “This may seem like a bizarre story but the reality is Mr Scandle was putting lives at risk through his behaviour on the road.

“Mr Scandle is lucky that he did not receive a driving ban but hopefully he will think twice about his behaviour on the roads following his sentence at court.”