THE chief executive of the Eden Project, Mr Tim Smit, has been banned from driving for six months after admitting to a speeding offence on the A30 at Launceston.

Mr Smith, aged 54, of North Road, Fowey, was checked driving at 87mph at Launceston on January 6 this year. The three penalty points took his licence total to 12 and meant he was liable to disqualification.

He asked the magistrates at Liskeard for leniency.

He said he needed his driving licence to take his 14-year-old son to school. He also sometimes needed to drive his eldest son, who was diabetic, to hospital appointments.

The magistrates decided that Mr Smit's circumstances did not mean "exceptional hardship" would be caused by a ban.

Mr Smit pleaded guilty to doing 87mph in a 70mph restriction and keeping a on a Fowey street without a road fund licence between July 1, 2008, and February 2, 2009.

Mr Smit was ordered to pay a total of £698.34 in fines, costs, surcharge and back duty.