ANTI-DRINK driver campaigners were outraged today after a trucker who smashed his articulated lorry into a house escaped a jail sentence.

Alfred Taylor, 64, was found to be almost three times the illegal alcohol limit after completing two 200-mile, round trips to Birmingham before the crash last December 5.

He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take a course for drink drivers. Taylor could be back on the road in 18 months - although probably never again behind the wheel of an HGV.

Today, Mike Jobbins, chairman of the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving, said: "A sentence like this epitomises what happens. Drink driving is not being taken seriously. It is on the increase and there is no deterrent whatsoever.

"It has just become a joke. We are campaigning for sentences that reflect the seriousness of the charge."

Taylor, of Manchester Road, Accrington - said to have "half expected to go to jail" - was told by the bench he could have gone to prison had he not pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He had been smoking and wasn't paying attention when he drove into the side of the property on Liverpool Road, in Burnley, the town's magistrates heard yesterday. He claimed it happened when he dropped his cigarette and bent down to pick it up. The magistrates ordered him to take up the optional drink drivers' rehabilitation scheme, which could knock six months off his ban if successfully completed.

Taylor, now jobless, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order to include the drink-impaired drivers' programme. He must also pay £55 costs.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, said police arrived at 11.20am and found the Mercedes articulated HGV and trailer had, mounted the pavement and hit a lamp post before smashing into the house.

Taylor, who was in a nearby home, told officers he was the driver. He smelled of alcohol but when asked said he had not been drinking.

Geoff Ireland, defending, previously told the court Taylor had then been working on an agency basis for Nightfreight GB Ltd, in Burnley. He had been to Birmingham twice during his nightshift and was heading home when the crash happened.

Mr Ireland said Taylor would normally go home and drink before going to bed. He had drank a "fair amount of whisky" the day before , had slept and then got up at 5pm.