THE manageress of a Burnley restaurant who was found to be over the drink drive limit has paid the price with a 12 months driving ban.

The town's magistrates heard how Carole Gentile, 28, had had two glasses of wine during a 12-hour shift at Valentinos. But had also had some of the chef's birthday cake which had been "saturated" in alcohol.

Gentile, of Winbourne Drive, Blackhill, Keighley, admitted driving with excess alcohol. She was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £150, with £55 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the defendant was stopped driving in Princess Way, Burnley, on Sunday night and when police spoke to her, they noticed the smell of alcohol. Gentile provided a positive roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to the police station. There, the lower of two specimens showed 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

Nadeem Rashid, defending, said that day Gentile had been working from 10.30am until 10.30pm at the family-run restaurant and was stopped shortly after her shift ended. She had had two glasses of wine which was quite strong, but was not overly concerned because of the length of time over which she had had them.

Gentile had also had some of the chef's birthday cake which was saturated in three types of alcohol, but accepted she was guilty of the offence and what was coming to her.

Mr Rashid said the defendant travelled from Keighley to Burnley every day and the loss of her driving licence would create substantial difficulties for her. She would have to rely on family members and friends to take her to work.

He went on:"She has been doing the fifty-mile round trip for 10 years and a ban is going to have far reaching difficulties for her."