A WOMAN caught drink driving at more than three times the limit has been banned from the road.

Claire Louise Britton, of James Street, Seaham, east Durham, was stopped by police in the town on May 23.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday heard the 36-year-old told officers she had not been drinking but had had two bottles of wine the night before.

However, a breath test found she had 118 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35.

A probation officer said the mother-of-two was very remorseful and was embarrassed to appear in court.

She told the court the defendant had been under a lot of stress and on the day had consumed vodka during a visit home in the afternoon to check on a sick pet, and later after completing a shift.

Britton, of previous good character, has lost her job.

She was handed a 12-month community order, must complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for 28 months.

She must pay fees of £170.