Former The Bill star Bill Murray has been cleared of speeding, and failing to notify police who was driving the vehicle he was alleged to have been speeding in.

Murray – formerly Det Sgt Don Beech in The Bill and Johnny Allen in EastEnders– appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.

Before he left court he made a point of wishing the bench a “Merry Christmas.” However, mystery still remains over who was driving.

The magistrates accepted his explanation he was not driving the Transit van alleged to have been speeding and that he had left it parked near some garages. He was working away at the time of the alleged offence.

Murray, 71, formerly of Herongate, Brentwood, and now of Hanover Avenue, East London, was found not guilty of failing to give information relating to the driver of the Ford Transit and the prosecution withdrew the speeding matter.

The court was told that the vehicle was caught by a speed camera doing 51mph in a 40mph limit on the Southend Arterial Road, Laindon, on 26 February.

The court was told that, as a renovator of cars, he used the van to obtain spare parts but that when he used it he always used trade plates.

He earlier told the bench at Chelmsford he could not admit speeding because it would be a "lie" as he wasn't the driver.

Murray, who represented himself in court, told them : “I used to leave the key under the mat in the van so it could be moved because it was often in the way."

He said he had been to the garages and had asked nine people who were there over the weekend he was away if they knew who had driven the van but had had no success in finding out.

Speaking after the sentencing, he said: "I'd like to say thanks to the court for seeing it my way."

And before he left court he told the justices: "Thank you and have a Merry Christmas.