A WOMAN crashed into the back of another car as she drove home early in the morning after a family party.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the other driver was a doorman and as soon as he smelled alcohol he seized Bernadette McManus' car keys and called the police.

McManus, 29, of Pilmuir Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath.

She was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £150 with £40 costs.

She agreed to be referred to the drink drivers rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, could reduce the ban by up to 25 per cent.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said McManus tried to get the keys back and when the police arrived she was shouting at the other motorist.

"She was obviously drunk, began to struggle and had to be restrained by two officers," said Miss Dacre.

"When asked to blow into the machine at the police station, McManus put her thumb over the aperture and after she had done this three times the procedure automatically aborted."

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said McManus had been to a family party but at the end of the evening felt fit to drive.

"She wishes to apologise for her behaviour, she does not accept that she put her thumb over the aperture but she did not make sufficient effort to blow into the machine."