As reasons for missing a court hearing go, a Cheltenham man may just have won the prize for the best yet.

Daniel Keen from Cheltenham was due to attend Gloucester Crown Court on Friday to enter his plea on charges of possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

However, the 42-year-old of Lee Close was unable to attend the hearing, because his mobility scooter blew up, caught fire and ended up sending Mr Keen to hospital.

Defending lawyer Joe Maloney said: "My client contacted me today and told me that his mobility scooter had caught fire and blown up and he had to go to hospital for treatment for his injuries."

Keen is charged with possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

The offence is alleged to have happened when he was in Cheltenham General Hospital after an overdose when the drugs were discovered, sometime between December 19 and December 21 last year .

His Honour Judge Richard Shepherd adjourned the case until Friday, July 12.