A GREAT HARWOOD butcher seen driving without lights in the early hours of the morning was found to be nearly three times the legal drink drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard PAUL Hodges rarely drank and was fully aware he should not have been behind the wheel.

Hodges, 38, of Sparth Road, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £660 with £85 costs and £66 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 24 months.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police saw a Fiat Punto being driven in Great Harwood at 2.25 am without lights. When Hodges got out of the car he said; "Sorry, I have been stupid."

Imran Hussain, defending, said it was unusual for his client to drink a lot but on the night in question he had met a friend and drank a lot more than usual.

"He made the terrible decision to move his car the 200 yards to where he normally parks when at work," said Mr Hussain. "He knows he should never have been behind the wheel. You can be assured this isn't a man who is ever going to come before the court again."