THE heavily pregnant wife of Newcastle United and England striker Michael Owen was banned from driving this morning.

Louise Owen, 25, was disqualified for 56 days after being clocked at 104mph in her Range Rover as she rushed to pick up two-year-old daughter Gemma from nursery.

With her banned and the crocked England striker's foot in plaster, the couple are worried about what would happen if there was an emergency in the late stages of her pregnancy.

Eight-months pregnant Louise, of Northrop, Flintshire, was banned and given a £540 fine by magistrates in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The ban will take her beyond the due date to have her baby in early February.

She was spotted speeding by a police officer on 21st October last year, doing 104.8 miles per hour over a 0.137mile stretch of road in her Range Rover Vogue.

Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, said: "When she was stopped by the officer, Mrs Owen said: 'It is my daughter's first day at nursery, I am going to collect her.'"

She was seen speeding at 11:31am along the busy A696 near Woolsington, Northumberland, a road which has a 70 mile per hour speed limit.

John Hall, defending, said: "Mrs Owen is 25 years old and has been driving for eight years or there abouts.

"She has only had one previous matter, a fixed penalty notice which expired today.

"When she was spotted by the officer she was surprised that she was doing over 100 miles per hour.

"She was fully co-operative with the officer and does not seek to hide behind any technical elements.

"Driving at the moment is of particular importance to the Owen family.

"For five days of the week they live in a remote part of the Newcastle area and travel to see family for two days.

"There isn't anyone else who can drive at the moment, Mr Owen as we all know, is injured, Mrs Owen has full responsibility for the driving.

Mr Hall pointed out that the Owens have just moved to the Newcastle area and there are no other family members or friends near by who can do the driving.

Mr Hall also raised concerns for the Owens' new baby, which is expected in February.

He said : "The baby is expected in the first week of February, Mrs Owen has a need to attend appointments and act if there is an emergency. "She realises her offence has put her in some jeopardy."

Newcastle Magistrates banned Owen from driving for 56 days and handed her a £540 fine.

Mrs Winn Clayton, chairman of the bench, said: "In this court we treat speeding at this level extremely seriously and find no alternative for the protection of other road users that for driving at such excessive speeds we must ban you from driving for 56 days.

"It is a very busy road we are all aware of where it is.

"You will be fined £500 and this is a small fine because of your early guilty plea." £40 was added for prosecution costs.

Mrs Taylor added: "You must not drive any motor vehicle at all, including any scooters, anything at all, not that you are likely to."