A DRUNKEN mother who swerved across the motorway with her terrified 10-year-old son in the passenger seat has been banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.

Droitwich magistrates heard how Vicki Webster drove while more than three times the legal alcohol limit along the Worcester stretch of the M5 on Sunday, October 14.

Kiernan Cunningham, prosecuting, said the mother was spotted by motorist John Lee as the Isuzu Trooper she was driving swerved across the lanes between Junctions Six and Seven.

He said Mr Lee rang police on his mobile phone after watching Webster's four-wheel drive "straddle" the road markings on the southbound carriageway. He then followed her to St Peter's Tesco supermarket where she stopped.

When he went to check if Webster was all right, a struggle broke out between them after he found her drunk and her son highly distressed.

"As Mr Lee approached the vehicle he noticed the defendant was talking to a young passenger who was crying," said Mr Cunningham.

"The young passenger, who was the defendant's son, told Mr Lee that Webster was drunk. When Mr Lee told the defendant she was not fit to drive she told him that she was.

"Then she got out of the driver's seat and Mr Lee tried to get the keys out of the ignition, but the defendant made efforts to stop him.

"The passenger, who was distressed and crying, also tried to get the keys and then tried to prevent her from getting back into the driver's seat."

Mr Cunningham added Mr Lee then contacted police for a second time and they arrived soon afterwards. Webster, aged 54, was breathalysed at the scene and found to have 109mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

"There was a minor scuffle when the officers tried to take the keys off her," he said. "But after her arrest she seemed to calm down."

During the hearing at Droitwich Magistrates Court, Webster - of Easinghope Lane, Broadwas, near Worcester - admitted driving while above the alcohol limit.

Judith Kenney, defending, told magistrates her client's mitigating circumstances were in pre-sentence reports and made no further representations.

Webster was ordered to carry out a 12-month community rehabilitation order, pay costs of £55 and was banned from driving for 30 months.