SELF-employed plasterer Mark West faces losing his livelihood after his car collided with four parked vehicles, a court heard.

West (40), of Beech Avenue, Whitefield, admitted a charge of drink-driving in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, when he appeared before Bury magistrates.

Mr Ian Walsh, prosecuting, said a police patrol attended the scene of a five-car road accident outside The Woodthorpe Hotel, in Bury Old Road. West identified himself as the owner of a BMW involved in the incident.

West said he had swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car, which caused him to hit four vehicles parked outside their owners' houses.

Police officers noticed West smelled of alcohol and a test showed him to have 57 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, compared with the legal limit of 35mg in 100ml.

West told the magistrates he had called at a pub for a couple of drinks after work and had left his car parked in Victoria Avenue, Whitefield, before walking home. He returned in the early hours to collect it, believing the effects of alcohol had worn off and that he was fit to drive.

"I thought I was clear and decided to go for a takeaway. Next thing I was involved in an accident, but I waited at the scene for the police to arrive and let matters take their course.

"This will have a bad effect on me and my family because without a licence I won't be able to make a living. "I've never had anything like this happen before. It's been an eye-opener and a frightening experience and I don't want to repeat it," he stated.

Because of the consequences to him and his previous good record, the bench limited the driving ban to 12 months and offered West the opportunity to take part in a drink-drivers' rehabilitation programme which, if successfully completed, will guarantee him a quarter reduction in the length of the disqualification.

He was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £60 court costs.