A Mercedes driver was fined £1,180 after his car collided with a steam train on the North Norfolk railway line.

William Mellor, 38, was driving his silver Mercedes on Sweet Briar Crossing, Sweet Briar Lane, Sheringham, on November 17 last year.

He was on his way to Sheringham Golf Club, where he was a member.

He appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Friday, May 17 charged with driving without due care and attention.

After admitting the offence, he was fined and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £118 and costs of £85. Five points were also put on his licence.

As reported at the time, Mellor, of Thwaite Common, Erpingham, was lucky to escape without serious injury.

Police said they received a call of an incident involving a collision between a car and a train at the crossing near the club at 11.21am.

The train was on its way from Weybourne to Sheringham to pick up coaches of passengers as part of the dinner train service.

No-one was on the train at the time except the driver and a fireman.

Andrew Munden, the North Norfolk Railway general manager, said at the time: "As the train crossed the level crossing it struck a car that was driving into the main road into the golf club.

"No damage was caused to the engine or the railway infrastructure. There are no gates at the crossing but there are red flashing lights like any other level crossing and audible alarms.

"The red lights were flashing away and the alarms were sounding, the car just didn't stop."

The steam engine was travelling at around 10mph at the time of the collision and was not damaged.

Tests were later run to make sure the lights and alarms on the crossing were working correctly, which they were.

The line and road was blocked while the car was recovered and the incident cleared and police said everything had been dealt with by the early afternoon.

Golf club members, in light of the incident, were warned to take care when approaching the course, to avoid any additional incidents.