A MOTORIST who was caught drink driving on a B road near Penrith has been given an 18-month driving ban by magistrates.

Carlisle's Rickergate court heard that Shaun Conrad Weir, of Arthur Street, Penrith, was caught by police as he drove along the A5305 between Junction 41 of the M6 Motorway and Stoney Beck roundabout.

It happened on April 17.

When police administered a roadside breath test, Weir was found to have just over four times the legal limit of alcohol for driving in his system, magistrates heard.

He pleaded guilty to driving over the prescribed limit.

As well as imposing the ban, magistrates fined the defendant £120 and ordered that he should pay a £34 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £85.

He was offered the opportunity to take a driver driver rehabilitation course. If completed in time, this will earn him an 18 week reduction in the length of his driving ban, the court heard.

Magistrates said the sentence they imposed took account of the defendant's guilty plea to the offence.