A DRIVER was fined £125 with £55 costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Andrew Richard Pickup, 21, of East Park Avenue, Blackburn, who had a reading of 57 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink drivers rehabilitation programme.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said police on patrol in Ribchester Road, Salesbury, at 11.35pm on Sunday saw a car being driven at between 65 and 70mph in a 30mph limit. They stopped the car and the driver, Pickup, admitted he had had "a pint."

Kevin Preston, defending, said Pickup did not accept he had been driving much in excess of the speed limit.

"He has not been charged with speeding," said Mr Preston. "He drank two pints earlier in the evening and then another one later and he didn't think for a moment he would be over the limit."