A "POPULAR" school- run cabbie has kept his driving licence despite clocking up 105 mph on the motorway.

Father of three Andrew John Bateman, 38, had been facing a ban and the loss of his taxi badge as he already had nine points on his licence.

But he argued a disqualification would cause him exceptional hardship and Burnley Magistrates agreed.

The defendant, of Charles Street, Nelson, had been convicted of speeding. He was given six points and a 12 month conditional discharge.

The bench, who warned him not to commit any further motoring offences if he wanted to stay on the road, told him his speed on the M65 had been "quite ridiculous," for a man employed driving people around.

David Lawson, for Bateman, told the court the defendant had worked at City Centre Taxis in Nelson for about 10 years.

One of his children had severe ADHD and Bateman had to take him to school before he went to work. He also took the child regularly to the doctor's.

Bateman was subject of a suspended committal to prison over £2,000 council tax arrears and if he was banned he would lose his job.