A 51-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man has been banned from driving for life, after being committed of his fourth excess alcohol offence.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Alan Edwards, of Hamer Avenue, gave a reading of 90 against the legal limit of 35. And stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein said Edwards was a candidate for an immediate custodial sentence.

"However, to send you to prison may well kill you" said Mr Finestein. "You are clearly an alcoholic and there is no immediate reason to think you will be, in the near future, a fit person to drive.

"For that reason I am imposing a life ban. Should the situation change, you can always make an application to get your licence back."

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said that when police stopped him, Edwards handed over his keys and said he had had too much to drink.

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