A WALNEY woman who overturned her car while drunk after getting behind the wheel following a christening has been banned from driving for 12 months.

A "remorseful" Samantha Rich appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with driving with excess alcohol.

The 51-year-old, of Solway Drive, pleaded guilty to the charge and the court heard how she had feared she would be "going to jail" after crashing her white Volkswagen Golf while over the legal limit.

Prosecutor Pam Smith told magistrates: "It was 9.30pm on Sunday August 26, the defendant had been to a christening, consumed alcohol then drove her vehicle along Main Street in Haverigg.

"She was involved in a road traffic collision, she hit a parked vehicle and caused her own vehicle to overturn."

Police were called to the scene and Rich failed a roadside breathalyser test. She was taken to Furness General Hospital to be treated for her minor injuries before being taken to Barrow Police Station.

At the police station, more than three hours after the crash, she provided a breath sample with gave a reading of 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

"In police interview she said she had riven to the christening and intended to leave her vehicle there and stay at her mother's," the prosecutor said.

"She started drinking at 2.30pm, had a pint of lager, a glass of wine, and then a bottle of wine. She didn't remember much but does remember being upside down in her car. She said to police 'I'm going to jail, I've had a drink'."

Defence solicitor Trystan Roberts said his client was "full of remorse and very anxious".

"You have heard the comment she made to the police," Mr Roberts told magistrates.

"There was only very minor damage to the other vehicle and she has put that right with the owner.

Her own vehicle cost £7,000 to repair and it's in the garage."

After handing a number of references to the magistrates Mr Roberts explained that while Rich needed to drive for work her employer was retaining her because she was considered to be a valued member of staff.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving ban and ordered Rich to pay a £235 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.