A Blackburn man who crashed his car as he drove to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous failed a breathalyser test, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that John Hamill, 59, of Langdale Close, later admitted drinking a quarter bottle of vodka to give him Dutch courage before the meeting.

He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, was fined £150 with £65 costs and banned from driving for 14 months