MATTHEW Hind, 22, of Ribblesdale Drive, Grimsargh, was fined £200 with £55 costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Hind, who gave a reading of 43 against a legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink drive rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, will reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Hind had drunk three or four pints of normal strength lager during the evening and, by the time he set off to drive, believed he would be under the limit.

"He works as a coach-builder for a firm in Rufford, near Ormskirk, and disqualification is going to make life extremely difficult for him," said Mr Taylor. "It was just a stupid mistake."