CHIVALRY led to a ban after a man driving a female guest home was found two and a half times over the limit.

Anthony Durkin, 61, of Laithe Street, Burnley, admitted driving with excess alcohol and not having insurance. He was fined £100, banned for two years and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said police saw Durkin in the early hours leaving a garage on Trafalgar Street, Burnley. A roadside breath test proved positive. A further two specimens were taken and the lower revealed 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Durkin had been entertaining guests, one of whom was a female. The defendant was chivalrous and decided to give her a lift home. He now bitterly regretted the decision and realised it would have been better to get alternative transport."

He said he was ashamed of his appearance before the court but had co-operated with police, was contrite and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.