A WOMAN who attempted to drive home after drinking wine at a picnic while watching a motor rally in a forest has been banned from driving for a year.

Anne Richardson admitted attempting to drive whilst unfit through drink when she appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Phil Morley said Richardson was spotted by spectators at the rally in Hamsterley Forest on April 28 trying to start her Ford Fiesta.

He said the car jerked a bit with smoke coming from it and the headlights on but it did not start.

The spectators then gathered around the car and told her to stop, but Richardson tried to start the car again, the court heard.

The spectators then took the keys away from her.

Tracey Kyle in mitigation said the trip to the rally was a rare outing for Richardson, 41, as she has to look after her elderly parents and is struggling to keep the family farm on Middleton Road in Woodland, near Bishop Auckland, going.

Ms Kyle said the wine had mixed with medication Richardson was taking but she had felt fit to drive.

The court heard that Richardson panicked when people started to crowd her car and she wanted to get away.

Magistrates ordered Richardson to pay £215 in fines and costs and banned her from driving for a year.