POLICE who had received reports of a possible drink driver spotted the car being driven erratically as it left the M65.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when Ciprian Romanescu got out of the car at junction 12 he was clearly drunk and "stumbling."

He later gave a breathalyser reading more than three times the legal limit.

Romanescu, 31, of Leeds Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work and 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was banned for 30 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

Ceilia O'Keefe, defending, said on the evening of the offence her client had a row with his partner and left the house to get away from the situation. He had not had a drink for three years following a bowel operation but went into Burnley town centre and had a few drinks.

"The alcohol had a greater effect on him than it otherwise would have done," said Miss O'Keefe. "He accepts he made a terrible decision that evening."

Miss O'Keefe said the defendant had lost his job as an Uber driver as a result of the offence but had managed to find another job in a factory.

"He has abstained from alcohol since the offence and intends to continue in that way," said Miss O'Keefe.