A MAN found asleep in his car on the Burger King car park in Blackburn was found to be more than double the drink-drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard the keys were in the ignition but Stuart Richard Bamber was adamant he would not have driven the vehicle.

Bamber, 53, of Stanhill Road, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while over the drink-drive limit. He was fined £80 with £85 costs and £32 victim surcharge. The magistrates, who could have disqualified Bamber, instead imposed 10 penalty points.

Paul Sumner, prosecuting, said police were called to the Burger King car park at 10.30pm.

The fire service were already in attendance after being told about a man asleep in a car with petrol coming from it. Officers could smell alcohol on Bamber and a subsequent breath test gave a reading of 75 against the legal limit of 35.

Ben Leech, defending, said the defendant and a friend had weighed in some scrap metal and had gone out to "celebrate" with a few drinks.

Arrangements had been put in place for his wife to pick him up after she had attended a charity function.

"He doesn't know why he ended up asleep in the car but what he can say is he would not have considered driving that evening," said Mr Leech.

"He would have waited for a lift or got a taxi but he would not have driven."

He said Bamber had worked all over the world in the fibre optic field and was hoping to start a new job soon.

"I hope you can draw back from immediate disqualification to allow him to progress his career," said Mr Leech.