A pensioner who panicked in an incident at a park ended up driving off, carrying a man on the bonnet of her car for 50 yards.

Mary Houghton, 73, admitted dangerous driving in Hambleton Park and was banned for five years and fined £750.

She will also have to take an extended re-test before she can drive again in furture.

Houghton, of All Saints Road, Thornton Cleveleys was also ordered to pay £643 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The judge at Preston crown court told her that a motor vehicle was a potentially lethal weapon.

The case follows an incident around lunchtime shortly before Christmas last year.

She was apparently concerned about danger to her dog.

A disabled man, Geoffrey Haworth, tried to speak to her but she drove off.

Mr Haworth could not get away and his leg became trapped under the elderly woman's car.

The vehicle stopped, but then again drove away.

He ended up on the bonnet and she drove for about 50 yards before he finally fell off.

Mr Haworth suffered considerable pain to his legs and needed hospital treatment.

It was some time before he felt able to walk again.

The woman told police she had felt petrified at the time. She explained she had driven very slowly while the man was on the bonnet.

Asked if she thought her driving had been dangerous, she said in the circumstances she had had no choice as the man had been holding on to the car.

The court heard there had been previous incidents involving people walking dogs on the park.

But there had been no direct history concerning Mr Haworth.

The retired woman was of previous good character.

Also, she had never committed any driving offences in the past.