A north-east businessman has admitted overtaking an ambulance which was driving at 80mph in response to an emergency call.

Hugh Eadie, of Barrowfield House, Netherley, was driving his Range Rover on the B979 Netherley-Stonehaven road at the time of the offence at 7.20pm on August 12.

Stonehaven Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that the ambulance had been travelling at around 80mph at the time of the incident.

Eadie, an operations director with CR Smith, had been on his way home from work in Dunfermline at the time the offence.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention and at excessive speed.

Procurator fiscal depute Sandy Hutchison said: "The ambulance was going from the hospital at Stonehaven to Culter over the Netherley road."

He said the driver became aware of a Range Rover driving close behind his vehicle.

"[The driver] was surprised when he overtook them given the speed involved and the narrow road," Mr Hutchison added.

"As a result the accused was reported by them to the police."

Eadie’s defence agent said his client had only become aware the ambulance was on an emergency call after overtaking it on a piece of road known locally as the "Hilton straight".

He said Eadie’s actions had not hindered the ambulance in any way.

Sheriff Peter Hammond said: "This was an unacceptable way to drive and you seem to acknowledge that."

The 57-year-old had eight points added to his licence and he was also fined £900.