A motorist who crashed into a wall walked several miles in the dark with a suspected broken neck.

Russell Shaw, aged 43, of Worston Road, Highbridge, admitted failing to stop after the accident on the B3139 near Bleadney when he appeared before Frome magistrates last week.

No other vehicle was involved in the accident on a narrow and isolated section of road shortly after 10pm on May 13.

Mr Shaw's car ended up sideways on, blocking three-quarters of the road.

Police called to the scene by another motorist found Mr Shaw's silver Renault Scenic unoccupied, with both airbags inflated, and traces of blood on the driver's side.

Crown prosecutor Jane Cooper said the officers had been concerned for the safety of the driver, as the area was hazardous and had ditches and peat bogs.

Six hours later, at nearly 4.30am, police searching the area found Mr Shaw.

"He was walking purposefully towards Shepton Mallet and seemed to make efforts to avoid the officers," said Miss Cooper.

"They stopped him and he seemed disorientated, and said he did not know how he had got where he was."

He was taken to hospital and treated for a suspected broken neck.

Defence solicitor Jeff Bannister said Mr Shaw had played golf on the day of the accident, and had drunk two pints of lager in the clubhouse afterwards.

The accident happened four hours later, on a stretch of road with no houses nearby.

Mr Bannister said: "He hit the wall in a very isolated location on a narrow B road and could not find his mobile phone to contact the police.

"He normally keeps it in the pocket of the door, but with the airbags inflated he could not find it.

"He started to walk in the Shepton Mallet direction. He was very shaken up and not thinking clearly."

Mr Shaw, who was wearing a neck brace in court more than two months after the accident, said he had been unable to work since.

He had previously worked as a service engineer, driving all over the country.

Mr Bannister said Mr Shaw was now relying on his wife's income, and the pair were struggling financially.

Magistrates fined him £100, with a £15 victim surcharge, and added seven penalty points to his licence.