A LIFELONG love of speed keeps racing grandmother Annie Templeton young at heart.

And the step-grandmother is champing at the bit to compete in the Toca tour at Croft Circuit near Darlington today.

The 50-year-old Yorkshire-born business woman, who jointly owns transport and warehouse company, Freightmaster, in Essex, hailed speed driving as the drug that kept her feeling in fine fettle.

"I may be 50 but I'm like a big kid at heart," she said.

The racing fanatic, who is married to 74-year-old business partner, Jim Templeton, owns three race cars, one of which is a bright red 1933 MG KN Special, which can do up to 146 mph.

She has inspired her three step-grandsons, Nicolo Ferrari, 14, Sebastian Ferrari, 12,and Harvey Banks, ten, to feel the need for speed and the wacky gran takes them karting whenever she gets the chance.

"I must have given them the bug. They love karting and racing around on quad-bikes and are becoming highly competitive," said Mrs Templeton.

Ironically, her own two daughters, Charlotte, 23, and Mary, 22, don't even hold driving licences.

Mrs Templeton, who has been racing since 1987, gave up vintage car racing after her husband grew concerned for her safety and took up circuit driving in touring cars instead.

Her love of cars was inspired by an A30 Austin car bought for £10 and re-painted when she was a teenager living in Wensleydale.

"My sister and I used to drive around the Dales in the car. It was terrific fun and I haven't lost the thrill of fast driving yet," she said.