A DRUNK woman who crashed into a vintage wedding car moments before a bride entered church to get married has been banned from driving.

Glynis Walsh was three times the drink-drive limit when she bumped into the classic Beauford Tourer as the blushing bride sat in the car outside St Mary’s Church in Horden, near Peterlee in County Durham.

The 60-year-old hairdresser was hoping to see her friend’s granddaughter in her gown before she got hitched.

But magistrates were told she was still over the limit, having drunk two bottles of wine the night before.

Walsh drove her black convertible Peugeot on to Blackhills Terrace and knocked a wing mirror off a blue Ford Ka before rolling into the luxury bridal carriage, damaging a wheel arch.

Father Kevin Smith, who conducted the wedding service, told The Northern Echo yesterday: “The bride was a bit shaken but she recovered and was fine for the wedding.

“She was a bit shocked because it was so unexpected. It is not the usual start to a wedding.”

The incident happened at 11am on August 30.

Blair Martin, prosecuting at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, said: “She was slurring her words and smelled of alcohol. She said she had come to the church to see the bride as she was a friend’s granddaughter.

“There was no indication that the bride was unduly upset by events.”

Walsh was arrested and gave a sample to police which had 253mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, more than three times the legal limit of 80.

She pleaded guilty to a single charge of driving while over the limit.

David Smith, mitigating, said Walsh was of previous good character and did not have an ongoing alcohol problem.

He said: “Mrs Walsh cannot communicate clearly enough how terrible she feels.

“She drove there with the best of intentions. She felt fit to drive but in hindsight was not. She has offered a full apology.

“This is the kind of incident, which can be marked down as a one off. She does not have a problem with alcohol.

“Lessons have been sorely learned and she will be more careful in the future.”

Walsh, of Kelvin Grove, Cotsford Lane, Peterlee was banned from driving for 26 months, fined £330 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs as well as £33 surcharge.

After the hearing she said: “I am devastated and very sorry.”