A DRINK-driver decided to get behind the wheel rather than walk when it started to snow on New Year's Eve, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard John Douglas Kay, 50, who had a similar previous conviction, skidded and abandoned his vehicle in Brierfield but later admitted he had driven from Burnley. He had never passed a driving test nor even applied for a driving licence.

Kay, of Pine Street, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £155 and banned for three years.

John Wishart, prosecuting, told the court that at 11.15pm police saw the defendant's vehicle at a junction. It appeared to have skidded in the snow.

Some youths said the driver was just around the corner. Kay had clearly been drinking, was co-operative with officers and said he got stuck after driving from Burnley.

The lower of two police station breath tests revealed 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Rachel Adamson, defending, said Kay admitted to police the vehicle was his. They would not have been able to prove the offence without his admissions.

He had not been in trouble since the first excess alcohol offence in 1997.

Kay did not have an accident or cause any damage. He made the foolish mistake of driving rather than walking when the weather became inclement.