A driver who was clocked speeding through the New Forest told police they were “off to play golf”.

Officers caught the driver during a patrol of the 40mph stretch of road between Hatchet Pond and Brockenhurst at Hawk Hill.

They were 18mph over the speed limit.

But they were not the only driver coming up with excuses for their speeding.

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One caught at 56mph told officers: “I’m late and need to drop my child off at the bus stop”.

Another driver, recorded at 59mph, was also late, and said: “I’m late and need to drop my child off at the train station”.

A motorcyclist was also pulled over for doing 50mph while overtaking a slow bus.

A spokesperson for New Forest Police said: “Op Mountie is our multi agency approach to reducing speed and animals deaths across the forest and as well as the four tickets that were issued for the speeds over 50mph another four drivers were spoken to by our colleagues New Forest - Forestry England and on the New Forest Roads Awareness Team.

“Again, this does mean that, as always, the vast majority of drivers did stick to the limit for which we are all extremely grateful.”