A MAN who led police on a five mile pursuit after they spotted him driving erratically in the early hours of morning has been jailed for five months.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Brian James Freeston, 35, of Countess Street, Accrington, was a disqualified driver and double the legal drink drive limit at the time of the incident.

As he drove from Blackburn town centre to Church at speeds in excess of the limit he shot at least four red lights and on one occasion mounted the pavement.

And the court was told that Freeston had six previous convictions for driving while disqualified and a previous drink driving conviction.

Freeston pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, without insurance and with excess alcohol. As well as the jail sentence he was disqualified from driving for four years and ordered to take an extended re-test before driving again.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said the police were first attracted to Freeston's vehicle at 3.45am because he had his hazard warning lights flashing and appeared to be having difficulty controlling his car.

They indicated for him to stop, but instead he drove off through Blackburn town centre, down Darwen Street and out along Audley Range and Accrington Road before eventually driving into a dead end in Church.

Miss Fanning said the car reached speeds of up to 60mph and went through red lights at Freckleton Street, Darwen Street, Audley Range and Accrington Road.

Passing sentence district judge Michael Hopkinson said the dangerous driving was aggravated by the fact that Freeston was disqualified, and therefore had not insurance, and by the excess alcohol.

"You were clearly being followed by the police but refused to stop and there is little mitigation in this case," he added.