A MAN who had attended a family funeral crashed his car after making the "foolish" decision to drive home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Jon Paul Connell was attended by paramedics as fire crew fought to get him out of his upturned vehicle.

And he was found to be more than double the legal drink drive limit when a blood sample was taken at hospital two and a half hours later.

Connell, 37, of West View, Knowle Lane, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £300 with £200 costs and £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 20 months.

Passing sentence District Judge Huw Edwards said the case was a graphic example of what can go wrong when people drive with too much alcohol.

"In this case you were the one who suffered but one can only imagine what would have happened if there had been people sitting in the car that you struck," he added.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police were called to Holden Fold, Darwen, at 1.55am following a report of a serious injury road traffic crash.

Fire crew and paramedics were dealing with Connell who was trapped in his vehicle which had ended up on its side after hitting a parked Mitsubishi.

"When he was extricated it was noted he smelled strongly of alcohol and he failed a roadside breath test," said Miss Allan.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had made a series of unfortunate decisions.

He said the self-employed dry liner had driven to the funeral in his car which had his tools in the back.

"His initial intention was not to drink and drive home," said Mr Price.

"Because of the emotion of the event he had a drink and clearly had more than he should. At the end of the night he made the foolish decision to take his van home."