A MAN who spent the night partying at a friend's house was still over the limit the following afternoon, a court was told.

The case of William Gane came on the same day West Mercia police warned revellers that driving the next morning after a heavy night's partying could lead to them being prosecuted.

Gane, aged 56, appeared before Worcester magistrates yesterday, and admitted drink-driving last Tuesday, December 5.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, described how police stopped Gane, of Wells Road, Malvern, at 3.10pm, while he was on the Leigh Sinton Road.

"They pulled over the Peugeot 405 and there was a smell of alcohol," he said.

"It proved positive and he later gave a breath test reading of 52 micrograms of alcohol in his breath. The limit being 35."

Joe Kieran, defending, said his client had visited friends in the village of Lickey, near Bromsgrove, the evening before.

"The friends were having a party and his partner drove him there and drove him home," he said.

"He had been drinking up to the early hours and he told me he had a good drink. It was one hell of a party and there was champagne, spirits and liqueurs."

Mr Kieran said Gane woke up about 12.30pm and had taken his partner to work before going about various errands.

He said he was heading home when he was stopped for driving fractionally over the speed limit.

"He felt perfectly able to drive, but it was just that there was a slight smell of alcohol," said Mr Kieran, who added his client had no intention of drink-driving.

"He's been caught because of the residual alcohol in his system due to the hectic socialising the previous evening."

Gane was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £250 and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Over the Christmas period police have said they will be carrying out spot checks on vehicles, and checking drivers are not over the limit.