A MAN seen rolling a moped which had run out of petrol down the pavement has been banned from driving for three years.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Martin Stirling was slightly over the drink drive limit and was a disqualified driver at the time of the incident.

A police officer saw him sitting on the machine as it rolled down the hill accepted that he did not hear the engine.

Stirling claimed the engine wasn't running because there was no petrol in the bike and claimed he had actually been running alongside it rather than riding it.

Stirling, 19, of Hodder Grove, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, while disqualified and without insurance.

He was ordered to do 200 hours community service and banned from driving for three years.

Clare Knight said it was not the usual drink driving scenario of someone driving their car along the public highway.

"He was on the pavement and although he was in control of the bike the engine wasn't on," said Miss Knight.

"It had run out of petrol so that wasn't possible.

He is guilty of the offence but in different circumstances which can perhaps be dealt with in a different way."