A woman who hopes to become a teacher knocked down a boy on a pedestrian crossing as he was making his way to school.

Wendy Townsley, 37, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, was a provisional licence holder and not accompanied by a qualified driver at the time of the incident.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of driving without due care and attention, not being with a qualified driver and having no insurance.

Fiscal depute Stewart Gibson told Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday that the 15-year-old boy was making his way to school at about 8am on February 10.

He reached a pedestrian crossing on the High Street in Tranent and, when the lights went to red to halt traffic, he began to cross.

Mr Gibson told the court: "He had taken two or three steps on to the crossing when he became aware of a car coming towards him.

"He attempted to avoid the collision but the car struck him and knocked him to the ground, hitting his head on the road."

Mr Gibson said various witnesses saw the incident and called the ambulance.

The police investigation showed that Townsley was a provisional licence holder, and, as she was not accompanied by a qualified driver there was no insurance.

Defence solicitor Mary Moultrie described the incident as "an extremely unfortunate accident."

The sun, she said, had been shining at a low level.

Ms Moultrie said her client was trying to get to an appointment at Edinburgh University and was hoping to become a school teacher.

She said: "She is extremely anxious about this matter".

Sheriff Gordon Liddle told Townsley: "This was utterly irresponsible. You had no business being behind the wheel of a car at all, but that is a choice you made."

He added: "I notice that you have held a provisional licence for ten years and can only ponder what might have gone on before. For someone like you, hoping to be teaching children, you could have killed the boy."

Townsley was fined £500 and disqualified from driving for six months.