'I was desperate for a poo', 'it's easy to speed' and 'I overtook because the person in front had' were just some of the excuses told to police during a weekend of tackling dangerous driving.

Dorset Police's No Excuse team were out in western Dorset catching motorists driving recklessly in poor weather conditions.

A driver caught speeding along a wet road at nearly 20mph over the limit told police officers it was 'easy to speed in his car'.

He was clocked travelling at 76mph in a 60mph zone on the A37 at Holywell between Dorchester and Yeovil.

A spokesman for the team said: "The driver got out the car and said 'I know I was doing 80, it's so easy to speed in this car'.

"He has a £100 fine and three points."

Later on, two drivers at once chose to overtake on a solid white line past a junction at the same location.

They were stopped by police who were told by one driver that he was "desperate for a poo" and the other "because the first one had."

The spokesman said: "Both were stopped and given a driver awareness course."

Another driver was caught travelling at 40mph in a 30mph zone through Martinstown village in rainy conditions, and was also recommended a driver's awareness course.