Jamie Barton received a fixed penalty notice while cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats in aid of Haven House Children's Hospice (From This Is Local London)

Jamie Barton received a fixed penalty notice while cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats in aid of Haven House Children's Hospice

11:27am Thursday 16th July 2009 in

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A DETERMINED cyclist who is raising thousands of pounds for a vital children's charity by riding 1,000 miles across the country has expressed his relief after being let off a traffic ticket.

Jamie Barton, 34, was stopped by officers on the A74(M) near Gretna while on his way from Lands End to John O'Groats in aid of Haven House Children's Hospice, in High Road, Woodford Green.

An eagle-eyed policeman issued a £60 fine and bizarrely three penalty points to his driving licence after he apparently swerved onto the motorway for a few seconds.

But Jamie – who was inspired to undertake the seven day trek by his friend's extremely ill two-year-old daughter Demi – challenged the penalty and has now had it rescinded.

He told the Guardian: “I was four days into the journey and had just got across the border and was pushing hard to get to where I was supposed to spend the night.

“I just had my head down and was watching the sunset when I must have drifted onto the carriageway.

“They kept me there for half-an-hour and gave me the ticket. I asked a friend who works at the Met if they could do that and he told me they couldn't.”

Jamie then contacted some local newspapers in Scotland and it was not long before the BBC picked up the story and got their lawyers on the case.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has now admitted their mistake and wished the intrepid traveller all the best for his journey.

But Jamie, of Chafford Hundred in Essex, said the getting the ticket had not been all bad news.

He added: “When I set off I had an optimistic target of £1,000 but since the media coverage it has already reached £3,500.

"Demi has problems with her throat so cannot swallow eat, swallow or breath properly and has a permanent tracheotomy.

“Haven House a fantastic cause and does great work with Demi so I am very grateful to anyone else who wants to sponsor me.”

Click Here to sponsor Jamie