A DRIVER who swerved to avoid hitting a police car has been banned from driving after she was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Alice Pease, 25, of Oak Lea Avenue, West Melton, was driving a Nissan Micra along Park Street, Wombwell, following a works do.

The court was told how as Pease was driving, her handbag had fallen into the footwell of the passenger seat, and she had reached down to retrieve it.

As Pease went to do this, the car moved into the other side of the road and was heading towards a police car which was driving in the opposite direction.

Pease swerved to avoid the oncoming vehicle, and following this, she stopped the car on Gypsy Lane. The police turned their vehicle round and found the car stationary, and a roadside breath test was taken.

The voluntary support worker was found to be over the limit, and she explained to police that she had been drinking wine mixed with lemonade at a function and she had not intended to drink or think she was over the limit.

When Pease appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, the court accepted that she was remorseful for her actions.

She was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £435.