A DRIVER followed by police from Skipton High Street because of the manner of her driving was over the drink drive limit, a court heard.

An officer followed Katie Atkinson, 26, after seeing her reverse her Audi A3 off the setts at just after midnight on April 3.

She drove off, without putting the vehicle's lights on, and swerved slightly along the road, heard Skipton Magistrates Court today (Friday).

The officer indicated for her to stop at Overdale Park, she admitted to drinking, and following a positive roadside breath test she was taken to Harrogate Police Station.

There, she was found to have 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Atkinson, of previous good character, of St Michael's Way, Addingham, admitted drink driving.

She told the court she had not hit a tree, as suggested by police while reversing off the High Street setts, nor had she said she had just the one drink, because that 'would have been a lie'.

She added that there was no excuse for what she had done, but that she had believed that she had been fine to drive.

Magistrates banned her from driving for 15 months, fined her £346 and ordered her to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £35.

If she completes a drink drive rehabilitation course her ban will be reduced by 15 weeks.