A WORCESTER hospital nurse stopped by police because her car was swerving across the road was more than three times over the drink-drive limit.

Nichola Owen appeared before city magistrates yesterday, and admitted driving with excess alcohol after being stopped in Upton-upon-Severn, last Saturday afternoon.

Kiernan Cunningham, prosecuting, told magistrates that police officers saw Owen's Peugeot 205 travelling towards Upton, and as it was almost level with their vehicle it weaved across the road.

"It crossed the lines on the carriageway so they turned their car around and followed it," said Mr Cunningham.

"They noticed as it went around a left-hand bend it went over a solid white line once more."

Mr Cunningham said the 28-year-old's Peugeot was stopped and the officers could smell alcohol on her breath.

A breath test proved positive and a later test at a police station showed Owen to have 120mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg in 100ml.

David Jackson, defending the single mother, of Laburnum Walk, Upton-upon-Severn, said his client had been convicted of drink-driving in 1991, and had some personal problems.

"She suffers from depression, and she appears to be a lady who is deeply unhappy," he said.

He added that Owen was a staff nurse at Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital and the ban, which she will receive, would mean she was unable to continue her job.

Mr Jackson said she had been drinking in a pub in Welland, on the day she was stopped.

Magistrates yesterday adjourned the case until Thursday, March 29, for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.