A NIGHTCLUB boss has launched an appeal against a six month driving ban.

Peter Clarke, 43, founder and owner of Entrepreneurial Leisure, which runs the Heaven and Hell chain of nightclubs, was banned this week after pleading guilty to a speeding offence.

The offence made him liable to a ban under the totting up procedure after reaching 12 penalty points.

Mr Clarke, of West View, Belthorn, told Blackburn magistrates he drives more than 30,000 miles a year travelling between his clubs in Blackpool, Stockport, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Leeds and Hull and that the ban would cause him exceptional hardship.

But magistrates rejected his plea and took his licence off him.

Now he is back on the road pending an appeal to the Crown Court.

Mr Clarke, who set up his business, which employs 600 people, five and a half years ago, said: "I was banned after accumulating points on speed cameras but I proved that the ban would cause me exceptional hardship.

"It would have been possible for the court to give me a heavy fine instead of a ban.

"I spend all my time travelling between the nightclubs and clock up around 30,000 miles a year. I travelled to a school in Manchester the other day to some motivational speaking and I had to take taxis to get there.

"This occurred over a period of three years. It is not like I am a mass murderer." Mr Clarke's licence was returned yesterday pending the appeal against his sentence.