POLICE trying to stop a speeding drink-driver were forced to race away from the man's Transit van when they feared he would plough into the back of them.

Officers followed William Price when they saw him emerge from the Blue Bell Inn in Malvern, on Sunday, April 1, around 9.30pm. Minutes later his blue Ford was swerving all over the road.

Ignoring the squad car's flashing lights, Price refused to pull over, and the police were forced to overtake in a desperate bid to attract his attention.

"They followed the vehicle and attempted to stop it," said Sally Hill, prosecuting yesterday at Droitwich Magistrates Court. "It was travelling at around 50mph in a 30mph limit.

"The van was weaving in the road and struck the nearside verge."

The police managed to overtake, but Price refused to slow down and the squad car had to pull away to avoid a collision.

Asthmatic Price, of Wheatfield Court, Callow End, near Malvern, eventually pulled over, but failed to provide a specimen.

Subsequent tests showed the 51-year-old had 101mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - almost three times the legal limit of 35mcg.

Price claimed he had drunk a bottle of brandy in the back of the police car to explain away the positive test, but searches of both him and the car proved fruitless.

He admitted drink-driving at yesterday's hearing after it emerged he had been drinking in the Guarlford Road pub with his disabled wife and another man.

Andrew Childs, defending, said jobless Price had been hit by a number of family tragedies and that this was the first time he had been to the pub for several years.

In the past six months, his son had died from a heroin overdose and his son-in-law had also passed away.

"The week before the incident his elder brother died from a heart attack," he added. His guard went down and he had too much to drink."

Magistrates banned Price from driving for two years and fined him £100 plus £55 costs.