A DRINK driver over three times the limit had "topped up," the alcohol in his system from the night before, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how Mark Irwin, 30, had had a pint and a half of lager the day he was stopped, but had had a lot to drink the night before.

Irwin, of Rochdale Road, Bacup, admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned for 20 months, fined £100 and told to pay £55 costs. The bench told him the offence was aggravated by the very high breath test reading.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, told the court police stopped the defendant's car at 5.30pm.

They noticed his breath smelled of drink and a roadside breath test proved positive. Irwin said he had not had a drink for a day or two.

The defendant was arrested and taken to the police station where two further breath samples were provided. The lower of the two samples showed 117 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of alcohol - the legal limit is 35. Irwin had no previous convictions.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Irwin conceded he liked a drink. He had had a pint and a half that day but a lot of drink the night before.