A CHEF who went out for a "quick drink" ended up failing a breathalyser at 1.25am.

Blackburn magistrates heard Chelsey Birtwistle was more than three times the legal limit.

Birtwistle, 23, of Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on Livesey Branch Road in Blackburn on October 6.

She was made subject to community supervision for 12 months with 100 hours' unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. She was banned from driving for 26 months.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said an off duty community support officer was in a taxi when he saw a queue of traffic in Livesey Branch Road which had formed behind a white Vauxhall Corsa which was blocking the road.

He thought the driver might be unwell but when he approached realised she was heavily intoxicated and called the police. Birtwistle gave a reading of 109 against the legal limit of 35.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client went out for a quick drink and ended up staying out far longer than she had envisaged.

"She will forever regret not getting a taxi for the short journey home," said Mr Prew.

He said she was currently working as a chef in the Lake District and her job would not be affected by the inevitable ban.