A MOTORIST has denied a charge of drug driving on a major motorway in Cumbria.

Stuart Barton, 26, of Cobden Street, Darlington in County Durham, appeared at Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 15.

He faced one charge of driving when the proportion of a controlled drug - namely Benzoylecgonine, the compound used to test for cocaine - exceeded the legal limit.

Around 40 per cent of cocaine is metabolised into benzoylecgonine. The court heard the level of the compound in Barton's blood is allegedly 175 ug/L - the legal limit for Benzoylecgonine is 50ug/L.

He also faced a further charge of driving without due care and attention.

The charges related to an alleged incident on December 22 last year. The court heard Barton allegedly drove his Mercedes on the M6 at Carlisle.

Barton admitted driving without due care and attention; however, he denied the charge of drug driving.

The case was adjourned until August 2 at Carlisle Magistrates Court for a case management hearing, which Barton must attend. He was not sentenced for admitting driving without due care and attention, as that charge was also adjourned to tie up with other cases.