AN ELDERLY motorist who killed a friend and neighbour by crashing into her as she cycled into a Highland village has been banned from driving and ordered to carry out community work.

Retired marine engineer Murdo Morrison drove into the back of 59-year-old Mary Brook's bicycle on July 22 last year. She struck the windscreen of the car and was thrown into the air, landing 90 feet away down an embankment near Drumnadrochit, 15 miles from Inverness. Miss Brook died of chest and spinal injuries a short time later despite efforts to save her.

Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, Morrison, who is 73 and from Kinloch, Balnain, was banned from driving for five years and ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to prison.

He had earlier pleaded guilty and sentence was deferred last month for a background report.