A DRINK driver caught outside his home had just collected his wife from hospital after she took an overdose.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Colin Coward, 40, was arrested but police officers then had to call an ambulance when his wife took more pills.

Coward, who was later found to be almost twice the legal drink-drive limit, was banned from driving for 15 months, fined £145 and must pay £55 costs.

The defendant, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol .

John Wood, prosecuting, said a police officers were drawn to the defendant's car because they noticed one of his lights was out at 11.40pm.

They followed the vehicle which stopped outside Coward's house and when officers spoke to the defendant, he appeared the worse for drink.

The lower of two samples of breath gave a reading of 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Trevor Grice, defending, said Coward had not deliberately flouted the law.

He had gone out for a drink and left his car at home.

He walked to the pub but was told his wife, who had been suffering from depression for many months, had taken an overdose.

He got a taxi from the pub to his house but found his wife had already gone to hospital.

Coward then phoned for a taxi to take him to the hospital, waited 15 minutes but decided to drive when it did not turn up.

Coward was taking his wife home when he was stopped. His wife immediately took more pills and was taken back to hospital.