A POLICE officer who saw a BMW joining the M65 from the M6 at speed had to reach 110mph to keep pace with the vehicle.

Blackburn magistrates heard when the car driven by Sarah Jayne Hopkinson passed an incident on the hard shoulder being attended by two fire engines she only slowed to 70mph before again accelerating up to 110mph.

And when she eventually stopped she was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Hopkinson, 38, of Devonshire Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was banned from driving for 16 months fined £120 with £310 costs and £32 victim surcharge.

Glen Anderton, prosecuting, said the car transferred from one motorway to the other at such speed the officer thought the driver was going to lose control.

He started to follow the vehicle which was doing approximately 90mph and swerving from one lane to another. After passing the fire engines the BMW again reached 110mph.

"After the officer illuminated his blue lights the car slowed to 70mph but made no effort to stop until it reached junction five," said Mr Anderton.

"A female got out of the car and the officer had to put her in the back of his car because she was standing in lane one of the motorway."

Mr Anderton said the offence was clearly aggravated by the standard of the driving.

Duncan Nightingale, defending, said Hopkinson initially pleaded not guilty because she had been taking medication and believed it may have affected the reading but now accepted she had drunk three vodkas which would have put her over the limit.

"She had been out for a meal with her ex-partner," said Mr Nightingale.

"He was being abusive in the car and she was trying to get home as quickly as she could."