A BLACKBURN postman crashed his car after foolishly deciding to drive the short distance home from a friend's birthday celebration.

Blackburn magistrates were told the incident had shaken Jason Lee Jones and his father and there would never be any repeat.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Jones and his father had gone to recover his vehicle the next day and the extensive damage made them realise just how lucky he had been.

"He says his father is not easily shocked but when he saw the vehicle a tear came into his eye," said Mr Ditta.

"He realised just how close his son had come to suffering serious injury or even worse."

Jones, 21, of New Wellington Gardens, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £200 with £55 costs and disqualified from driving for two years.

Jones, who gave a reading of 76 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink-drivers rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, could reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said police were called to Moorgate Street at 4am. They found a Vauxhall Nova on its roof. It was extensively damaged and there was also damage to metal railings.

Mr Ditta said Jones and friends had been out celebrating and had hired a minibus to take them out and bring them home. He had left his car near the drop-off point but that was only round the corner from his home address.

"For some stupid reason he decided to drive home, a decision he bitterly regrets," said Mr Ditta. "Thankfully no one else was involved and my client will learn from his mistake."