Dominic Cooper risks £2,500 fine and points on licence as he drives with trees coming out his sunroof

ACTOR Dominic Cooper risks getting tree points on his licence – as he drives his car with two tall saplings sticking out of the sunroof.

Mamma Mia star Cooper, 45, was seen behind the wheel with a pal and the swaying trees in leafy St John’s Wood, north London this week.

Cooper – also villain Edwyn Cooper in recent BBC heist drama The Gold - was seen in colourful tennis gear and wearing shades and a cap as he got into his Fiat Panda 4x4.

He and his pal were spotted laughing in the front seats, with the trees planted on the back seats of the limited-edition motor.

But last night, a lawyer warned he could have committed an offence which leads to points and a fine.

An onlooker said: “They were having a right laugh – but I could not believe it when I saw what they had in the car.

“Then I realised it was Dominic Cooper in the driver’s seat and was even more shocked.

“He got in his car with a friend and they were both having a giggle about what they were doing.

"It was an unusual sight and he shouldn’t have been driving like that – with the trees sticking out.

“Although the trees were really young, they were very tall and would have obscured what he could see – and what other drivers could see as well.

“It looked very dangerous – and I hope they didn’t try to go under a bridge.”

Lawyer Nick Freeman, who specialises in driving cases, said: “This appears to be a case where the driver is carrying a dangerous load.

“The straightforward offence here is of driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

“That would usually result in three points and a fine of up to £2,500 under Section 40 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act.

“If there’s a previous similar offence within three years, it’s a mandatory disqualification.

“And police could absolutely act just on seeing the pictures.

“They could send a Section 172 notice to the registered keeper, who has an obligation to say who was driving at the time.

“The registered keeper could be offered a fixed penalty at that point, which would probably be a fine and three points.

“However there is the possibility of it going to court.

“But they might offer a driver awareness course – and if they do that there’s no points and no conviction.”