A COUNCILLOR was caught up in an astonishing coincidence after he picked up a speeding ticket for a car he no longer owned.

Cllr Doug Anson, chairman of Wycombe District Council and former Marlow mayor, went on holiday to Devon from August 24 to August 27 with his wife.

But when he returned to his Marlow home, he received a speeding fine from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary for exceeding 70mph on the A30 road on Thursday August 27.

The A30 is the main dual carriageway between Devon and Cornwall.

"I immediately held my hands up and said guilty as charged, " he said. "I was driving on the A30 and I was going along that road at that time 4.30pm.

"And then I happened to notice the number of the car was the one I sold back in June it was extraordinary."

Shocked Cllr Anson said the fine was in fact issued for his wife's old Renault Clio, which was sold in part exchange to a garage in Stokenchurch in June.

The car has since been sold to another driver and Cllr Anson believes his old car must have have been on the same road at the same time.

Cllr Anson has now contacted the constabulary and told them he was not responsible. As a result, they urged him to contact the garage, which could send the DVLA the new owner's personal details. They will then be able to send the fine to the correct person.

Cllr Anson said: "When I was told it was the A30 in Devon I immediately said I was guilty but I thought I was driving within the speed limit and thought that was amazing."

Cllr Anson said he has received letters for two other speeding offences committed in the car since he sold it.

An administrator for Village Cars, in Stokenchurch, which bought the car in part exchange, said they had the invoice for the sale of the car and would be able to forward details to the relevant authority. He said this was often required of them because DVLA records usually take a while to become updated with the names of new car owners.