A VALENTINE'S Day date with his girlfriend proved a little too intoxicating for a 32 year old Blackburn man.

The town's magistrates heard when he was stopped driving in the early hours of the following morning Mobeen Ansar Taj was found to be nearly the drink drive limit.

Taj, of Johnston Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £120 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. He was banned from driving for three years after the court heard it was his third drink driving conviction and his second in the last 10 years.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Taj had been out with his girlfriend for something to eat and they had a few drinks. In the early hours of the morning she wanted to eat again and he thought he would be alright to drive.

"They had both been drinking Dr Pepper but she had vodka in hers and he thinks they may have got their drinks mixed up," said Mr Farnsworth.