A DEVIZES driver hit a bus and drove off without stopping because he was attending to an urgent call of nature, Kennet magistrates heard on Tuesday.

Wayne Johnson, 36, of Massey Road, Devizes, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the accident but not guilty to a further charge of careless driving, which was subsequently dropped.

Prosecuting, Amanda Sawetz told the court that shortly before 9am on February 5 last year, the driver of a Mercedes bus, which was preparing to turn right into Bridewell Street, saw a green Vauxhall Cavalier approaching him at speed along Long Street.

The car clipped the wing of the bus, but did not stop.

But Johnson did report later to Devizes police station. He said he could not stop because he was suffering from diarrhoea. He said he had hit the bus because his car had slipped on a patch of ice on the road.

He was fined £100 for failing to stop and his licence was endorsed with six penalty points, fined £70 for having no insurance with no separate penalty for failing to report the accident.