POLICE patrolling on the M65 near junction seven at Clayton-le-Moors saw a man on the central reservation carrying a car bumper and a Jaguar half way up the embankment.

Blackburn magistrates heard the driver, who admitted driving from Blackpool on his way home to Burnley, was found to be more than three times the drink-drive limit.

Gareth Owen, 35, of Colbran Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with conditions that he attends the drink driver programme and does 80 hours unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for 28 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge. Owen gave a reading of 118 against the legal limit of 35.

Peter King, defending, said Owen was working in Blackpool and had been waiting for a lift after finishing work on Friday October 24.

The lift didn’t turn up and he and a workmate went to the pub. Owen then went back to work, got the keys to the boss’ car and set off to drive back to Burnley.

Mr King said the car was available for all employees to use. He said the accident had not been his client’s fault.

“Somebody swerved in front of him and there would have been a collision if he hadn’t taken evasive action,” said Mr King. “He hit the central reservation and ended up on the embankment but fortunately nobody was injured.”