A woman who was more than three times over the legal drink drive limit has been spared jail.

Valerie Patricia McGuinness, 48, of Whinlatter Road, Whitehaven, was banned from driving for four years and had a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months by magistrates at Workington on Friday.

The court heard McGuinness was driving a Volkswagen Beetle, on August 18, on Whinlatter Road with 117mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

McGuinness, who pleaded guilty, must attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a two-month curfew was also imposed between the hours of 8pm and 4am.

Magistrates felt the suspended prison sentence was necessary due to the high reading, previous relevant conviction and evidence of poor driving.

McGuinness was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £122.