THE boss of a North-East haulage company has been jailed for driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway.

Neil Green, 45, who runs a company in Middlesbrough, was found guilty of dangerous driving after Carlisle Crown Court heard how an oncoming car had to swerve on to the verge to avoid a head-on crash with his articulated lorry on the A66, in Cumbria.

The court heard that Green had driven nearly 400 miles that day when, at 65mph, he passed four signs warning of the approaching dual carriageway.

He then drifted across white hatching marks and clipped a keep-left sign before driving westbound on the eastbound carriageway, near Keswick.

He slowed almost to a stop when he realised his mistake, but decided to carry on down the wrong carriageway.

Green, of Honister Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, denied dangerous driving.

He admitted driving on the wrong side of the road, but said he only did it because he had no time to get back on to the correct side after swerving to avoid something.

In mitigation, defence barrister Rod Halligan said Green, who is married with two children, was essential to his company's survival.

Green was sent to prison for four months and banned from driving for two years.