A man caught smoking a joint while driving along a motorway has been banned for a year.

Daniel Fagg initially attracted the attention of a passing police car at 5.25am because he was driving at speed.

His Vauxhall Corsa pulled out in front of officers onto the M20 London bound carriageway at Ryarsh in April.

When stopped a short while later officers found the 24-year-old labourer sat behind the wheel smoking cannabis. He also had a small bag of the drug in his possession.

A sample of blood taken was found to contain 2.6mg of THC per litre. The legal limit is 2 micrograms.

Tahir Saeed, defending, said Fagg had immediately admitted the offence and handed over the bag, adding since the incident he had cut back on using drugs.

Under new legislation that came into force in March there are now set limits for a number of illegal and prescription drugs.

Police are enforcing this by using roadside impairment tests and new drug-testing equipment.

Appearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Monday Fagg, of Hazlewood Meadow, Sandwich, admitted drug driving and possession of the Class B substance.

Alongside the 12-month disqualification magistrates ordered Fagg to pay a £665 fine, a £40 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a £180 criminal courts charge.

Unlike drink driving bans there are currently no awareness courses available for drug driving, meaning Fagg’s ban cannot be reduced.