A WOMAN with an immaculate driving record for more than 50 years collided with a cyclist on a roundabout when dazzled by the sun, a court heard on Tuesday.

Julia Carr, 73, of Riverside Park, Upavon, near Pewsey pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention when she appeared before Wiltshire magistrates sitting at Swindon on Tuesday.

The court heard from the police prosecutor that Mrs Carr was driving her Suzuki Ignis on the A345 at Pewsey on the afternoon of January 23.

She slowed when approaching a roundabout but proceeded when she saw no other traffic. She then ran into the cyclist, knocking him off his bike and causing minor injuries.

Daniel Jones, representing Carr, said she had been dazzled by the low sun and had not seen the cyclist.

She was filled with remorse, admitted she should have stopped at the roundabout and was very sorry for the injury she had caused him.

Mr Jones said Carr, a widow, had worked hard as a secretary all her life and had driven safely without incident for more than 50 years. This was, he said, a one-off lapse of judgement.

Carr was fined £126 and ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30. Her licence was endorsed with five penalty points.