A TRIP of 120 yards in his wife's car cost self-employed joiner Stephen Peter Roberts a three-year driving ban.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Roberts nipped out to move the car from a main road parking spot when a space became available outside their home in Southern Close, Longridge.

But police approached as he pulled up and he failed a breathalyser test.

Roberts, 36, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and without insurance.

He was banned for three years because of a previous drink-related driving offence in 1996 and fined a total of £400 with £55 costs.

Roberts, who gave a reading of 50 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink driver's rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, will reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.

Adrian Williams, defending, said Roberts had been sitting at home and had no intention of driving. A neighbour knocked on the door and said he was moving his van and did Roberts want to put his car in the space.

"He decided, rather foolishly, to move the car because of incidents of damage to cars on the main road," said Mr Williams.