Pensioner Arthur Harrison turned into a traffic menace when he drove the wrong way for miles along the A64, a court heard.

A police officer had to drive alongside him on York's outer ring road with blue lights flashing to warn other motorists of the 70mph elderly driver.

The actions of PC Andrew Quigley and colleagues who gathered at Grimston Bar to stop Harrison won praise from York magistrate Richard Booth. He said: "We pay particular tribute to the police in this matter who acted with great speed, obviously, to ensure there was no accident. That none took place is due perhaps to the police being able to bring this matter to a conclusion in that way."

Harrison, aged 78, of the General Post Office, Stonegrave village, near Helmsley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was banned for 12 months, ordered to take a driving test before getting back on the road and pay a £250 fine with £120 court costs.

Duty solicitor Damien Morrison said: "He realises his career of driving is now over."

Graham Sylvester, prosecuting, said PC Quigley was on duty at Fulford Road Police Station on February 3 at 8.40pm when a 999 call alerted police to a driver travelling the wrong way on the westbound carriageway of the A64.

By the time he reached the scene, Harrison had travelled three or four miles at about 70mph with his windscreen wipers going although it was not raining, said Mr Sylvester.

PC Quigley drove alongside him on the eastbound carriageway towards Grimston Bar with his blue lights flashing to protect him from oncoming traffic. Police stopped the car, but when they told Harrison to follow them, he went the wrong way. Asked why he was using the wrong carriageway, he told police "It is one of those things".

Mr Morrison said Harrison had never been in court before. He had taken a wrong turning when heading homewards from Copmanthorpe through an unfamiliar area. When he realised he was on the wrong carriageway, he drove along looking for somewhere to get off.