A former soldier who met up with other veterans on Remembrance Day crashed his car as he drove home from the pub.

Blackburn magistrates' court heard Jason Pye described his decision to get behind the wheel as the "worst of his life."

Pye, 50, of Garner Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £150 with £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 17 months.

Sameena Chaudhry, prosecuting, said the car drove by Pye had hit a lamp post on Jack Walker Way and flipped onto its roof. Pye later gave a breathalyser reading of 68 against the legal limit of 35.

Neil Howard, defending, said the incident took place on November 11 which was an extremely significant day for his client.

"He served in the Artillery Regiment for many years and Remembrance Day is one of reflection and remembrance of colleagues lost," said Mr Howard.

On the day of the incident he had been working and then went to the pub with his wife, which they usually did on a Friday.

"In the pub that night were a number of veterans, who he didn't know, from various services and some were in uniform and wearing medals," said Mr Howard. "He got talking to them and his wife noted his mood change. She agreed to give him some space and went home on her own."

Mr Howard said that his client had the dog with him and when he eventually left the pub he went to the car, which would normally be left at the pub, to get some poo bags for the walk home.

"He was sat in the car for half an hour, very upset and trying to control himself," said Mr Howard, "He then made what he described as the worst decision of his life and set off to drive home."

Mr Howard said his client had been a HGV driver for the last eight years and that job was now gone.