A MOTHER-of-two who crashed into a parked car at 5.30pm was found to be nearly four times the legal drink-drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Jean Duffy Atkinson had been drinking all afternoon with her uncle and had taken his car without his permission after he fell asleep.

Defence solicitor Rachel Adamson said a series of sudden deaths in her family had been the catalyst for her client's drinking which she now recognised was a severe problem.

Atkinson, 36, of Everton Street, Darwen, admitted drink-driving and taking without consent aggra-vated by damage caused.

She was made subject to community supervision for 12 months, with a condition she undergoes alcohol counselling, banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the owner of the car she crashed into.

Miss Adamson said two years ago six members of Atkinson's family had died in the space of eight weeks. It was very traumatic for her and the remaining members of her family.