A SOLDIER almost three times the limit may pay the price with the career he had always longed for, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how gunner Andrew Higson, 18, who smashed into a parked vehicle and drove off, could face medical discharge from the Army because of a heart murmur. But if that didn't happen, he might lose his job because of his conviction.

Higson, of Salterforth Road, Earby, admitted driving with excess alcohol, failing to report an accident and failing to stop. He was banned for 18 months, fined £400 and must pay £50 costs.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, told the court in the early hours the defendant hit a vehicle on Victoria Road, Earby. Higson was traced to a friend's house 45 minutes after the accident. He had been drinking, was arrested and gave a breath test which revealed 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

John Greenwood, defending, said Higson, who was in the Royal Artillery, was extremely upset about what he had done. The defendant, who had been in the Army two years, had signed on for four years, had intended to extend that but regular health checks had shown up a heart murmur. He said Higson had gone to discuss the situation with a friend, they had had a few cans and very foolishly he decided to drive home.