A 22-year-old man from East Cranmore who admitted being nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit has been banned from driving for 12 months.

Kye Silk, of Slait Hill, had been out with friends on the evening of July 15 this year, and had drank two pints of cider when he decided to stay for a third, Frome magistrates heard.

Jeremy Oliver, prosecuting, said Silk left to go home and got in his Mitsubishi but on the way he had to swerve to miss a Passat coming towards him on Chelynch Road, near Waterlip, which resulted in him driving into a ditch.

The police were called and he was given a roadside breath test. It showed he had 63mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit for driving is 35mcg.

Jeff Bannister, defending, said Silk was very ashamed of his behaviour and also for being in court.

He said it was completely out of character for him to drink and drive but he had split from his girlfriend and only went out to talk things over with his friends.

Mr Bannister said Silk needed his licence for his job, which involved a lot of driving, and asked the court to that into account.

Magistrates said they had taken into consideration the fact he had no previous convictions and if he completed a drink driving rehabilitation programme the 12-month ban would be reduced to nine months.

He was also fined £350 and was ordered to pay £85 towards court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.