A 40-YEAR-OLD woman who was nearly four times the drink-drive limit abandoned her vehicle on Pendle Hill before getting a taxi home.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Katrina Bracewell's "erratic" driving had already been reported to police by another motorist concerned that she was either drunk or ill.

Bracewell, of New Hall Farm, Whins Lane, Read, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was given a community rehabilitation order for six months, with a condition that she attends the drink impaired driver programme and disqualified from driving for three years.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Bracewell's vehicle was first sighted by Philip Butler as it was being driven along Chatburn Road, Clitheroe, at about 12.30 pm on December 27.

The vehicle was straddling the centre line and being driven very erratically.

Mr Butler thought it was going to stop. It then speeded up but never did more than 20 mph.

"It mounted the nearside verge and crossed the central white line several times and Mr Butler formed the opinion the driver was either drunk or ill and he called the police," said Ms Worsley.

As the Mitsubishi 4 x 4 reached the A59, it did not stop or give way and another car, travelling towards Skipton, was nearly hit.

Bracewell's vehicle then turned sharply into the road leading to Sabden without indicating.

Sue Robinson, defending, said her client had been an alcoholic for 25 years and would take herself off on three or four day drinking binges.

Miss Robinson said there had been no drinking since the commission of the offence.