LANDLORD Edward Massey told a judge he would go bankrupt and two pubs could close with the loss of 40 jobs if he was banned from driving for speeding.

But Massey, who runs the Boat at Cheddleton and the Travellers Rest near Leek, failed in an appeal to Stafford Crown Court to have a six-month ban quashed on the grounds of hardship.

He was disqualified by magistrates under the totting up procedure after being caught speeding on the A53.

Mr Stuart Clarkson, opposing the appeal, said Massey's X-type Jaguar was snapped by a speed camera doing 38mph in a 30 zone in Cobridge Road, Cobridge. He was convicted of speeding on September 13 last year and given three penalty points bringing his total to 12, which made him liable for disqualification.

Massey, aged 57, of the Boat Inn, told the court he had recently taken on a third pub – the Gazelle Hotel in Anglesey and had been living up there. He needed to get to all his premises regularly each week and to cash and carry stores.

He said: "I won't be able to travel, I'm the only driver, my partner doesn't drive. I have 40 to 50 staff at the three premises. It'll result in me going bankrupt and the places will have to close."

But rejecting the appeal, Judge Eades said: "He's asserted that if we dismiss the appeal he is likely to go bankrupt, but we are in no position to understand whether he is exaggerating or telling us the unvarnished truth."

The judge added that Massey could use one or more members of his staff to drive him around at very little extra expense. The landlord was ordered to pay £260 costs for the appeal.

Community leaders and his staff are hopeful the Boat Inn and Travellers Rest will not be forced to shut.

They said they could not see him going bankrupt over a speeding ban and said he had other staff to drive him.

Both are popular pubs with tourists and trade is boosted by visitors to the nearby Churnet Valley Railway and Caldon Canal.

Albanian-born Edmond Arapi, of Langford Street, Leek, is head chef at the Travellers Rest, which employs up to 20 workers.

The 30-year-old father-of-three said: "It is a very popular pub and it is always very busy.

"We get a lot of big parties in and the staff from the Britannia also keep us busy.

"If it was to change hands, then I am sure somebody else would take it over.

"Thankfully, I do not see any prospect of it closing or losing my job."

Cheddleton resident Malcolm Ward, an occasional visitor at both pubs, said: "He is a nice lad, but he is not here much of the time now.

"I can't see either of the pubs closing."

Cheddleton parish council vice chairman Mike Bowen said: "It would be a bit of a blow if the pubs did shut."