AN errand for an elderly neighbour cost a woman her driving licence and £305 in fines and costs.

Blackburn magistrates heard Janet McPhie had not thought she would be over the drink-driving limit when she set off to buy a pint of milk.

The presiding magistrate said it had proved to be a "rather expensive" pint of milk for the Norden High School, Rishton, science technician.

McPhie, 36, of Brownhill Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was banned for 12 months and fined £250 with £55 costs. McPhie, who gave a reading of 56 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink-drive rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, will reduce her ban by 25 per cent.

The court heard that police were called to Ash Street after a collision involving two cars.

McPhie approached an officer and confirmed she was driving one of the cars and he immediately smelt alcohol on her breath.

Sarah Perkins, defending, said the mother of three had been at home on Friday afternoon when her ex-partner had visited. He brought with him a number of cans of lager and they had a drink.

"She has now discovered that the lager was the extra-strong variety but, when her elderly neighbour asked her to run an errand, she did not realise she was over the limit," said Miss Perkins.