THE mystery of how a driver who had not had a drink in 24 hours was found to be more than three times the legal limit will have to be resolved by experts, a court was told.

Antony Watson, 56, of Summerdale Drive, Ramsbottom, was before the magistrates at Bury charged with drink-driving in Longsight Road, Holcombe Brook, Bury.

When he was stopped in his Nissan Micra by police and tested he was found to have 106 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath compared with the legal limit of 35 in 100.

However Watson insisted he had not had a drink since midnight on the night before, virtually 24 hours earlier.

His lawyer Joe Foxler told the bench: "It would appear to be scientifically impossible for him him to have more than three times the legal limit on that basis and an investigation is needed by experts."

Mr Foxler said a clue to the seemingly illogical reading could be the liver problems which Watson suffered and which were being investigated at hospital and if a scientific investigation could give credence to what the defendant said then it would make a substantial difference to what sentence might be imposed.

The magistrates agreed and adjourned the hearing until June 25 while the matter is further investigated.

Watson reserved his plea at this stage and was granted unconditional bail pending the next hearing.