The chairman of Beaminster Town Council has been ordered to pay a court bill after being caught speeding along a main route in Dorset, a court heard.

Craig Monks, aged 39, of The Beeches, in Beaminster, was behind the wheel of a blue Skoda driving above the speed limit along the A3066 Beaminster Road in Bradpole on March 7 last year, Weymouth Magistrates Court heard.

In court on Monday, July 4 Monks admitted exceeding a 30mph speed limit, namely 37mph, in contravention of a local traffic order.

Monks has been the chairman of Beaminster Town Council, which is made up of 10 councillors, since June 2020.

When approached by the Dorset Echo and Bridport & Lyme Regis News for a statement, Monks said: 'I have no statement or comment."

The defendant's guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence.

Monks was fined £80 and ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £34. He must also pay court costs of £85 - totalling £199.

His driving record was also endorsed with three points.