A PENSIONER was caught drink-driving as he was dropping his friend home.

Barry Edwards from Upper Lyde pleaded guilty to driving a car in Rogers Avenue in Hereford while over the drink-drive limit.

He had 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath- the limit is 35mg.

Hereford Magistrates' Court heard that police stopped him at 9.20pm on February 18, when officers noticed the 66-year-old was driving at around 15mph in a 30mph zone.

Chris Read, defending, said Edwards had drunk three pints since he met friends at 5pm, but had moved on to soft drinks as he knew he was driving.

He said he felt fit to drive and was dropping his friend off at his house.

Magistrates fined him £110, ordered him to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £20. He was disqualified for 12 months, and was offered a drink-drive rehabilitation course which will reduce this by 3 months.