A German lorry driver has escaped prosecution for driving while using a mobile phone, with what must be one of the best excuses ever used. He claims he was only holding his mobile to his head because his ears were cold.

A local court accepted Walter Klein's claims that he had only been using the phone, which was warm after being recharged, to warm his ears. His mobile bill was checked, to confirm the phone was not in use to make a call at the time he was stopped. Klein told the court that his truck was yet to heat up and he had an earache, which the cold made worse.