A DRIVER has been banned for a year after failing a breath test due to a binge-drinking session the night before.

Philip Watson, of Hunstantworth, Darlington, had drunk one pint of lager during the afternoon of May 15 when stopped by police.

However, the 22-year-old had been drinking heavily the night before and the alcohol was still in his system.

Watson pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared before Darlington magistrates yesterday.

The court heard his breath test was positive, showing 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay court costs of £34.