It was quite a surprise for the police patrol car driver – to run into stubble trouble on the M1.

But there he was this motorist in the near side lane, shaving off the 8.25 a.m. shadow with a battery-operated electric razor as he battled along at 45 miles an hour.

The upshot was that close shaving John Mason, a 28 year old motorway catering unit service manager, had yesterday to answer a careless driving summons, at Leicester magistrates court.

Mason, of Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton,  pleaded guilty by letter.

At the same time, he said he did not consider shaving while driving was any more serious than smoking a cigarette or using a radio-operated telephone.

“And I stick by that,” he said last night ‘I can see no difference between using one hand to shave with than eating an apple.”

As for the magistrates, they adjourned the case for a fortnight for Mason to appear.