A WOMAN spotted driving erratically while drinking wine has been banned from the roads for 28-months.

Christine Starkey, 54, of Front Street, Cassop, near Durham, was reported to police by residents in Fir Tree, near Crook, who became concerned at her driving.

She was heading through the village at 7.30am on October 18 in a Peugeot 107.

Police arrived to find the car stopped in the road with Starkey nearby and a resident gave the police the keys to her car.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies told Newton Aycliffe magistrates that it was clear Starkey was drunk and police found a three litre wine box in her car.

He said it had been her birthday the day before and she had been out celebrating.

Upon reaching home she had continued drinking. Starkey and her partner had then argued and she had gone to bed.

She woke next day and drove to the shop for the wine and poured some of it in into a plastic bottle which she had been drinking from as she drove through Fir Tree.

Starkey pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge having given a reading if 105mg in 100ml of breath as the limit is 35mg.

In mitigation the court heard Starkey had drunk more than she should have done and had continued when she got home.

She was banned from driving for 28 months and fined £417. Starkey must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £42 victim surcharge.