A 50-year-old Longridge man was seen driving erratically on a five-mile journey from Fulwood to his home town.

And Blackburn magistrates heard that police who approached Andre Stuart McNeil's car smelled alcohol and had to catch him when he fell out as the door was opened.

McNeil later gave a breath sample which showed a reading of 91 against the legal limit of 35. McNeil, of Firwood Close, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

He was committed on bail for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the incident started in Haighton Lane, Preston, at 8 pm on March 28 when company director Hilary Mitchell noticed a silver Rover in front of her which was not displaying lights.

The car was being driven at 20mph and was wandering from one side of the road to the other. She decided to stay behind the car and Mr White detailed her description of the journey that followed.

McNeil's car was "all over the road" and at various stages mounted the kerb and clipped hedges on both the near and off sides.

"The witness formed the opinion the driver of the Rover was either drunk or under the influence of drugs," said Mr White. The car accelerated to speeds of between 60 and 70mph at times but then slowed again allowing Mrs Mitchell to keep it under observation.

It weaved from side to side as it passed through Grimsargh and vehicles coming in the opposite direction were forced to take evasive action.

At Cow Hill McNeil began to overtake another car and then pulled back - but not in time to avoid a minor collision with a car coming in the other direction.

Mrs Mitchell, who called the police, said the driver of the other car stopped and as she passed she could see that he was clearly shocked by what had happened. McNeil took a bend and nearly collided with an articulated lorry before he was finally stopped by a police Land Rover in Berry Lane.

"An officer approached the car and as the window was wound down there was a strong smell of drink," said Mr White.

"He tried to get out, saying 'what's wrong, can I help?' but he actually fell out and the officer had to hold his arm to prevent him falling on to the road." McNeil, who was not represented, said he did not recall hitting hedges or mounting pavements or hitting another vehicle.

"As far as I am aware there has been no report of a hit and run on that road that night," said McNeil. "I know I was guilty of drink driving and I am prepared to suffer the consequences."