Woman drove car with 27 dogs

Barbara Byrne told police she was driving to the beach

An animal lover had 27 dogs in her car including one on her lap when she was stopped by police on a dual carriageway, a court heard.

Barbara Byrne, 60, was also smoking and holding a can of drink between her thighs, Huntingdon magistrates were told.

Two police officers tried to pull over the former care worker in her Renault Laguna estate after they saw her driving at 40 mph and veering across the A1 dual carriageway in heavy rain at Brampton, Cambridgeshire.

She carried on driving for more than 15 miles after officers sounded sirens and flashed the patrol car's lights.

A second police car had to be used to box in her car and force her to stop on 13 May last year.

Beach walk

Five dogs were travelling unrestrained. Another 22 small ones were in a cage in the back of the car.

Byrne later told the police that she had been driving more than 100 miles from her home to take her pets for a walk on the beach at Skegness.

Byrne of Manor Close, Tongham, Surrey, was found guilty of careless driving, failing to stop and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

She was banned from driving for a year, fined £50 and ordered to pay £75 costs.