A MOTORIST described an incident on a busy Ribble Valley road as being "like a scene from The Sweeney," a court heard.

The reference to the cult cops and robbers TV series of the 1960s and 1970s was made as Blackburn magistrates were told how a mother feared both she and her 12-month-old baby could be killed.

Christine Porter told police that a blue BMW sports car flashed out of a junction and across in front of her at motorway speeds and she fully expected a police car to be in hot pursuit.

"If I had been a couple of seconds earlier the car would have collided with me and me and the baby would have been knocked to kingdom come," said Mrs Porter. "I am sure we would have been killed. It was a very close shave for us."

Elliot Peter Reed, 25, of Rogersfield, Langho, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident.

He was fined £400 with £75 costs and his licence was endorsed with seven penalty points.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, said Mrs Porter had been travelling along Whalley Road out of Clitheroe towards the A59. As she approached the junction with Whalley Road, Barrow, the BMW, driven by Reed, passed about two car lengths in front of her. Having completely crossed the carriageway, it crashed into a metal gate post.

Mr Maude said other witnesses had seen the car driving at speed through Barrow. He said one saw it overtake a bus and estimated its speed at between 60 and 70mph.

After the crash, Reed rang the police and told them he was in a pub in Whalley and he was told to wait there. When the police arrived he had gone and it was three hours later that they got a call to say he was in a pub in Blackburn, from where he was eventually arrested.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Reed had accelerated to complete an overtaking manoeuvre and, as he approached the junction, a car had come out of a cul-de-sac on his left.

"He took evasive action and then realised it was impossible for him to stop before the white lines," said Mr Preston.

"He made the conscious decision to head across the road and into the lane, where he crashed into a gate. He accepts a lack of care but not the speeds mentioned by the witnesses."