A 25-YEAR-OLD Wotton-Under-Edge man was nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit when he was stopped by police In August, Cheltenham Magistrates' Court heard.

Martin Earle of Gloucester Street, Wotton-Under-Edge admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates on September 5.

He was stopped in his VW Passat estate on August 21 in New Road, Wotton-Under-Edge and found to have 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms.

Earle was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85.