A FREE bar proved costly for a 22-year-old driver.

Blackburn magistrates heard Shannon Higham made the 'foolish' decision to drive home and was found to be more than three times the legal drink drive limit.

Higham, of Waddington Road, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was banned from driving for 25 months, ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Tracey Yates, prosecuting, said police received information about a drink driver leaving the Rose and Crown. An officer who had seen the car involved moments earlier retraced his steps and saw Higham driving on Chatburn Road.

She refused to provide a roadside sample but at the police station gave a reading of 106 against the legal limit of 35. Police also found a small bag of cocaine in her purse for which she was cautioned.

Damien Pickup, defending, said Higham worked in a hotel and had attended a staff party which had a free bar. At some stage a heated argument broke out and Higham decided to leave to get away from the situation.

"She just wanted to get away and wasn't thinking straight when she got into her car," said Mr Pickup.