1 Ayrton Senna was a Formula One racing driver from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who died aged 34 in a high-speed collision during the 1994 Grand Prix in San Marino.

2 Last week, Ayrton Senna appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court, where he pled guilty to a charge of driving carelessly in the town's Ferguslie Park last August.

3 The two incidents were unrelated.

Paisley's Ayrton Senna is a bus driver, previously known as John Campbell.

He had changed his name by deed poll, in honour of his hero.

4 British citizens are entitled to change their own or their children's names, provided they do not have "deceptive or fraudulent purposes". No legal process is necessary; however, official agencies, banks and employers may request a deed poll document, formally known as a Change Of Name Deed.

5 The cost of a deed poll varies from about [pounds]7.50 for a fill-it-yourself form to around [pounds]40 for a complete service.

6 An estimated 750,000 people change their names in the UK annually. Among others, Craig Thompson became Sauron, The Dark Lord; Anthony Duda became Zipardi Duda; Gary Brett became Hong Kong Phooey; and an inventor became Oxford University to secure an internet domain name.

7 Other name-changers make less flamboyant choices. Last week, snooker ace Jimmy White became plain old Jimmy Brown, as part of a sponsorship deal with HP Sauce.