Mike Ferguson was transporting an organ for transplant

Mike Ferguson, 56, of Bradford, was allegedly clocked driving a marked vehicle with blue flashing lights at 104mph while delivering a liver for a transplant.

During a short hearing at Grantham Magistrates' Court in Lincolnshire on Wednesday, a trial date was set for 20 October after Mr Ferguson indicated a plea of not guilty.

The senior driver with West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service was driving to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge on 16 January when he was allegedly caught on camera on the A1.

"Strain"

If convicted Mr Ferguson could lose his job.

John Durkin, branch secretary for Mr Ferguson's union the GMB said the delay in proceedings was causing the driver a great deal of stress.

He said: "It is a strain on Mike and his wife.

"He continues to be very professional about this and he has shown no anger at all.

"The government must act very, very quickly because if it doesn't, a lot of lives are going to be lost."

The union has collected around 6,000 signatures on a petition in support of Mr Ferguson in addition to thousands of messages from well-wishes around the world.