CAMPAIGNERS reacted angrily yesterday after a mother who was caught drink-driving on the school run on successive days was spared prison.

The Campaign for Drink Driving described the three-year driving ban and 18-month community rehabilitation order imposed on 39-year-old Ginette Taylor as far too leniant.

At Scarborough Magistrates' Court, Taylor, of Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, admitted two charges of drink-driving near Kirkbymoorside Primary School.

Dawn Birkett, prosecuting, said: "On January 7, at 3.10pm, police officers were on duty at Piercy End, in Kirkbymoorside, when they were approached by Mrs Taylor who talked to them about an abandoned car.

"While the officers were talking to her they smelt alcohol on her breath and noticed she had car keys in her hand.

"A short while later they saw Mrs Taylor get into a Ford Sierra and drive off."

The officers stopped Taylor and a roadside breath test was positive. Mrs Birkett said that, on her arrest, Taylor had said: "But what about my children? I was going to pick them up from school."

A further test showed she was almost three times the legal alcohol limit.

She was charged and released on police bail to appear at court five days later.

At 3.40pm the following day, officers saw Taylor driving along the A170 at Kirkbymoorside with two young children.

They stopped her and she was again found to be almost three times the drink-drive limit.

Clive Caddy, for Taylor, said: "She said she had drunk a relatively small amount of lager. She was so embarrassed by the previous day that she had something to drink before she drove.

"Mrs Taylor has expressed embarrassment and shame, particularly in relation to her family and children."

Mike Jobbins, of the Campaign Against Drink Driving, said: "The sentence in this case is trivial, it is far too lenient."