A mother-of-four has been banned from the roads after being caught driving while over the limit for cocaine.

Stacey Tunstall, 41, of Croasdale Avenue, Mirehouse, admitted a charge of drug driving when she appeared before magistrates in Workington yesterday.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said a police officer was on mobile patrol in Whitehaven at 2.15am on January 12 when he noticed a vehicle travelling in excess speed.

The defendant came to a stop on George Street and was spoken to by the police. A breath test for alcohol was negative but a drug wipe was positive for cocaine.

A blood sample taken at the police station revealed Tunstall had 37.9mcg of cocaine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Ms Fee told the court that the roads were quiet at the time of the offence and Tunstall had two passengers in the vehicle with her.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said: "She is keen to point out the cocaine use had taken place several days earlier.

"She has been involved in court proceedings in Liverpool. She was subsequently acquitted. She used cocaine to manage that stress.

"On the night she was perfectly sober. The passengers were adult passengers.

"She is a single mother. She has four children."

Tunstall was banned from driving for 12 months. She was fined £120 and must pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.