TYCOON Ann Gloag has been fined for speeding at 90mph.

The Stagecoach founder was clocked at 30mph above the speed limit on a stretch of the A9 near Inverness.

However, she avoided a driving ban at a court hearing yesterday.

Inverness Justice of the Peace court heard Gloag's Range Rover was seen heading north by police officers whose pro-laser speed gun showed she was travelling at 90mph on a stretch of single carriageway.

The 72-year-old admitted speeding on the road, which carries a 60mph limit, at Lynebeg by Moy, south of Inverness, on July 5.

An agent for the businesswoman, who was not present for the hearing, offered her "full and unreserved apologies" for her behaviour.

The agent told the court that Gloag, of Kinfauns Castle, Perthshire, was currently in Kenya on charitable work. Her charity the Gloag ­Foundation supports projects that prevent or relieve poverty and encourage the advancement of education, health and religion in the United Kingdom and overseas.

The court was told she had a clean driving licence and it was her first offence.

JP Richard Syred imposed a £400 fine with 28 days to pay and endorsed Gloag's licence with five penalty points.