MasterChef star fined over speeding

MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has been fined more than £1,000 for speeding at 82mph in a 50mph zone, a safety camera partnership said.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Whitstable, Kent, was caught by a camera van driving 32mph over the speed limit near Maidstone on April 22.

The former fruit and vegetable seller pleaded guilty and was fined £1,330, handed six penalty points and ordered to pay £85 costs in his absence at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on October 9, the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership said.

Katherine Barrett, communications officer for the partnership, said: "Safety cameras operate at sites where people have been killed or seriously injured.

"On this stretch of road from Maidstone towards the County Showground, there were eight people killed or seriously injured within the signed camera area before the site was installed, and two people in the last three years.

"We do not want to catch people speeding. We would like them to drive within the speed limits and reduce the number of crashes and casualties."

Drivers are offered the chance to attend speed awareness courses if they are within a certain threshold but "excessive cases such as this" are referred to court.

A spokesman for Wallace confirmed he was charged with speeding in April.