A TEENAGE driver admitted to police that he had smoked cannabis about 20 minutes before he was stopped.

Blackburn magistrates heard a subsequent blood screen showed he was under the limit for cannabis but six times the limit for ecstasy.

Christopher John Luff, 18, of Hesketh Road, Longridge, pleaded guilty to driving with over the limit for a specified drug. He was fined £165 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 12 months.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police stopped a car driven by Luff at 10.20 pm because it had fog lights on when it wasn't foggy.

"A road side drug swipe showed positive for cannabis and he admitted smoking the drug 20 minutes earlier," said Mrs Yates. "Analysis of a blood sample later showed he was under the legal limit for cannabis but gave a reading of 62 for ecstasy against the legal limit of 10.

Neil Howard, defending, said his client admitted taking ecstasy the previous night but was not aware it would still be in his system on the Sunday night.

He said the loss of his licence could impact on his client's job and here would be financial implications because the car was on finance and would have to be sold.

"He accepts he has brought all this upon himself," said Mr Howard.