Stephanie Cornwall, from Wymondham, was caught in Leicester doing 37mph on her way to Rutland Memorial Hospital, Oakham, after she was told six-year-old Alfie had been bitten on the face and was receiving treatment.

Thankfully Alfie has recovered but the police will not back down, despite letters from the nurses and Melton and Rutland MP Alan Duncan.

Mrs Cornwall said: "I was told he'd been bitten on the face by a dog and was bleeding a lot, very frightened and upset and wanted his mum, so I just downed tools and went to him.

"I was caught on a very quiet street, a long way from where any children were and no risk of cars turning out in front of me.

"It's just so wrong that someone should profit from such a distressing incident. It just defies belief that anyone could be unfeeling enough to make money out of this."

She added: "It does seem ironic when celebrities get excused for speeding because paparazzi are chasing them or they are desperate for the toilet, our local police are unprepared to take a genuine emergency into account."

The news came as England cricket star Andrew Flintoff escaped punishment after allegedly doing 87-miles-per-hour in a 50 zone, following a legal technicality.

And Mr Duncan, who is backing her appeal, said: "The proof is so obvious that anyone with any initiative should have shown some judgment and just ripped up the ticket. It's very depressing when an organisation like the police show such mindless insensitivity."

A spokesman for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Camera Safety Partnership said: "Mrs Cornwall's son had already been taken to hospital and was being treated. Understandably his mother was anxious to see him, but as she was not taking him to the hospital we feel there was no need to be speeding.

"There have been instances in the past when we have over-ruled tickets for people who were taking someone or themselves to hospital when they needed treatment."

Alfie will be left with a scar below his eye following the incident, but thanks to the staff at the hospital it will be small.

Mrs Cornwall said: "Alfie is well on the road to recovery now, but he was very subdued for several days after and suffered a great deal of upset when he first saw his face in the hospital mirror. He was also in quite a bit of pain just before and just after the wound was sealed, and we even thought he might require plastic surgery at one point."

The owners of the dog have promised to keep it muzzled.