A WOMAN flipped her car when she got behind the wheel after drinking wine.

Hilary Hallimond, 57, was found by police trapped in her Vauxhall Corsa off the A688 at 12.45pm on May 21.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday heard her first words to the officers were: “I’m sorry I’ve had three glasses of wine.”

A breath test taken after she was helped out of her vehicle by the fire brigade identified 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35.

The defendant, of Dunelm Court, Barnard Castle, pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving and told the court her course of actions followed a call to say her mother was in hospital.

Hallimond, of previous good character, was given a 12-month driving ban and was fined £300 plus costs and fees of £115.