CARE worker Shirley Driver was breathalysed outside her Clitheroe home after police saw her driving in the early hours of the morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Driver had left the family house to "clear her head" after a disagreement and had not stopped to consider that she had drunk some wine.

Driver, 37, of Mearley Syke, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £150 with £55 costs.

Driver, who gave a reading of 85 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink drivers rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, could reduce her disqualification by up to 25 per cent.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Driver was a lady of good character who had an impeccable motoring record. "She knows she has to be disqualified but would ask you to keep that disqualification as short as possible," said Mr Ditta..

"On the night of this offence she had drunk some wine at home and she was not aware of the strength of that wine.

"When she left the family home after an argument, she had only driven a short distance when she returned and was actually breathalysed on the front drive of her home."