A MAN who left a work's Christmas party early because he felt uncomfortable was stopped by police for drink-driving.

Peter Vranch, 54, of Hope-under-Dinmore pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Hereford Magistrates Court last week.

The court heard on November 29 he had been to a football match in Shrewsbury and on the way home stopped at a work's Christmas party in Leominster.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said police stopped him on the A49 near the Marlbrook roundabout shortly after 9pm.

A breath test showed he had 47mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg.

Chris Read, defending, said Vranch felt uncomfortable by some of the behaviour that was going on when he arrived at the party and took the decision to leave, having consumed two pints of beer.

Mr Read said the reading came as a surprise and Vranch thinks extra alcohol may have been added to his pints.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

He was disqualified from the road for 12 months.