A Bishop Auckland driver whose car went weaving across a road and mounted the pavement, has been disqualified from driving for two years.

Gordon Andrew Heseltine, 39, of Tintern Road in St Helen Auckland, was almost three times over the legal limit for alcohol when stopped by police in Bishop Auckland last Wednesday night.

Sedgefield Magistrates heard that police first saw Heseltine driving slowly and erratically in Cockton Hill Road at about 11.30pm.

The officers flashed their car lights and sounded the siren, but Heseltine kept driving.

The car slowed and Heseltine got out, while the vehicle was still moving.

He refused to give any details at the police station, but a test showed he had 96 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Heseltine, who admitted drink driving, was disqualified for two years, fined £200 and ordered to pay £50 court costs.