A DRIVER on his way to get a ferry to the Isle of Man was over the drink-drive limit, Skipton magistrates.

Paul Watson, 54, of Wharton Square, East Parade, Baildon, was stopped by police on the A65 at Cleatop, near Settle, at 12.20am on February 27 after his Mazda 6 showed up as having no MOT certificate, the court heard.

Officers thought he had been drinking, and a roadside breath test proved positive. He was taken to the police station where he was found to have 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Watson, who admitted drink driving, had been on his way to Heysham to catch a ferry to the Isle of Man to see his elderly father, the court was told.

John Mewies, in mitigation, said Watson had had something to drink at lunchtime, had been to sleep in the afternoon and had not thought he was over the limit.

Mr Mewies added Watson had been just a few days late with his MOT and had immediately had it tested. Watson needed his car to work and without a licence would be unemployed.

Watson was banned from driving for 12 months and was fined £120. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink driver's rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 13 weeks.