A COMMUNITY care worker caught speeding four times in almost as many days on the same stretch of road has lost a fight to keep her licence.

Mother of two Elizabeth Miriam Turner, 39, had claimed a ban would cause her exceptional hardship as she would lose her job.

The defendant, whose solicitor told Burnley magistrates the road at first had a 40mph speed limit but had changed to 30mph, said all four summonses had arrived on the same day.

She said: "I couldn't believe it. I was horrified."

The bench said they had given her case intense consideration.

They added that while they had some sympathy in how the offences occurred, they could not find exceptional circumstances. Loss of employment in itself could not be regarded as exceptional hardship.

Turner, of Sparth Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors, had admitted speeding on July 5, 7, 8 and 9, last year. She was given a conditional discharge and was disqualified for six months.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the defendant was caught out by a camera on the A678 Blackburn Road, Padiham. She had been travelling towards Altham and clocked up speeds of 36, 35, 36 and 38mph.

Carl Gaffney, defending, said Turner was of good character and had a clean driving licence.

She only saw the camera flash on the last occasion and thought she had made a dreadful mistake, not only once, but on several occasions.

Turner worked for Spring Cottages, which provided care in the community and drove about 300 or 400 miles a month.

She would lose her job if was banned. Turner worked between 150 and 200 hours and earned about £700 a month.

Mr Gaffney said Turner's husband took home about £1,000 a month and paid £500 in child maintenance.

He also contributed over and above that to his two children.

The solicitor went on: "The defendant's ability to keep the house running will be very seriously affected."