A PART-time cabbie almost three times the limit has lost his licence and his job after being banned for two years.

Burnley Magistrates heard father-of-one Craig Henry Cooper, 42, would also lose his employment with a finance company after a late morning smash after the England v Brazil World Cup match.

Cooper, of Chatburn Court, Barnoldswick, whose car ended up on its side, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was also fined £130, with £55 costs.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police were called to a non-injury road accident in Foulridge at 10.45am, last Friday.

The defendant had hit a dry stone wall and his car had rolled over on its side and was blocking the road.

At the police station, Cooper was given two tests and the lower gave a reading of 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. Cooper had no previous convictions.

John McNabb, defending, said Cooper would now lose both his jobs as he needed his driving licence for both.

The night before the accident, he had been working taxi driving, finished in the early hours and had a drink at home. He got up early on Friday to watch the football and then went out in his car.

He was mortified at the level of the breath test reading. He said he had had a drink the night before and thought he would be fit to drive. He did not normally drink.

Mr McNabb said the defendant would now have to look for alternative employment and might well end up on benefits in the short term.

He had a disabled child who lived in Padiham and the only way to have regular contact with the boy now would be to move closer to his home.