A WOMAN who went out to buy cigarettes and milk did not realise she was over the legal drink-drive limit, a court heard yesterday.

Kerrianne Thomas, 28, of Armadale Grove, Hartlepool, was followed driving at speed along Belle Vue Way, in the town by the police on Monday.

When stopped, she admitted she had drunk three-and-a-half pints of cider.

It was found she had 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal level is 35 micrograms.

John Relton, mitigating, said: "She had not gone out to drink and drive. She had been drinking in her house and had ran out of cigarettes and milk, and decided to go to the 24-hour garage to replenish those stocks.

"It did not occur to her she was over the limit."

Magistrates banned her from driving for three years, fined her £250 and ordered her to pay £43 costs.

She was also ordered to pay £292 in outstanding court fines.