A Ludlow man has been cleared of driving into a South Shropshire District Council worker, who was trying to help flood victims, and then driving off.

Adam Murrell, 29, of Ludford View, Greenacres, yesterday denied the charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop.

At Ludlow Magistrates Court defence solicitor, Brendan Reedy, called the suggestion that Mr Murrell hit Robin Stanness on purpose was “fantastic and unbelievable” and said that it did not happen.

Samantha Morgan, prosecuting, said the incident occurred at midday on June 29 last year when Mr Stanness was working with council colleagues helping flood victims on Lower Corve Street clear their houses.

She said the road had been blocked off and a Renault Kango van tried to get through, so a member of the public moved the bollards.

She said Mr Stanness got out of his work van and told the driver he could not drive through and the van just drove into him.

Mr Stanness said Mr Murrell drove into him hitting him in the right leg and carrying him forward on the bonnet for a short distance before driving off.

But Mr Murrell, a married foreman for a local builders, said it was Mr Stanness who acted aggressively towards him.

He said: “He came at me and pushed himself up onto the bonnet of the van. It is a lie that I drove into him. He did not speak to me politely and I felt intimidated, shocked and confused. I braked immediately and he came off. He then came round to the driver’s side and I thought he was going to tear me out of the window be honest with you so I drove off.”

Mr Reedy, summing up, said: “Mr Stanness was annoyed and he couldn’t turn around to his boss and say he jumped on the bonnet.”

After deliberating for an hour, magistrates cleared Mr Murrell of both charges.