A LIFT engineer apologised to officers after drinking and driving to a McDonald's drive thru.

Antony Kennedy, 33, visited the fast food restaurant at North Valley Retail Park in Colne in his Volkswagen Transporter van at about 9.50pm on March 27.

Prosecuting at Burnley Magistrates' Court, Suzanne Ludlow, said police arrived to find the van was parked badly and a member of the public said he had been drink driving and had left his van.

Kennedy returned to McDonald's where he met officers and said: “I was driving. I had three pints. I’m sorry.”

Kennedy failed a roadside breath test and in a further test at the police station, he blew a reading of 41 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg.

He worked with police and prosecution and has accepted full responsibility for his actions, the court heard.

In mitigation, Waseem Chowdhary, said Kennedy was "regretful and remorseful" for what he had done.

Mr Chowdhary added: “Unfortunately, the McDonald's turned out to be a lot more expensive for him.”

Kennedy pleaded guilty to drink driving and was fined £576, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £58 and court costs of £85 – a total payment owed of £719.

He has also been banned from driving for 12 months. He has offered to take a Moorgate Drink Driving course which, if completed successfully, will reduce the ban by three months.