A DRIVER more than three times the drink limit appeared slumped in his seat when spotted by police in the early hours.

Burnley magistrates heard Dennis Williams, 22, smelled strongly of drink and told officers he would be over the limit.

Williams, of Gordon Road, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was bailed until March 19 for a pre-sentence report and was warned all sentencing options were open.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, said police travelling on Brunswick Street, Nelson, saw a vehicle in which the driver appeared slumped in his seat, his window was down and the other windows were fogged up. They followed until he stopped on Chapelhouse Road and went to the car. Williams said he had half a cup of cider and would be over the limit.

Miss Reddish said blood tests were taken and the reading revealed 269 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit is 80. Williams had 26 previous convictions.

Lee Hammond, defending, said at the time of the offence, Williams had been an alcoholic for some years.

He had helped himself out of that and was taking medication to help prevent him from drinking.

Williams, whose offending was alcohol-related, had not been in trouble since 2001. He was on sickness benefits.