NIGHTCLUB door staff contacted police after seeing a man drive away from their premises, a magistrates court heard.

Euan McGrath, 27, from Court Orchard, Fownhope, left Mamma Jammas, in Hereford, on September 9, before driving away in his Rover.

McGrath pleaded guilty to drink driving at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Amy Davies, prosecuting, said that 2.45am on September 9, police officers were passed information that the defendant had just left the nightclub and drove off.

The door staff said that he had been drinking and was over the limit.

Police saw McGrath's vehicle driving along East Street and made there way in order to cut him off, pulling out behind the vehicle.

When they approached the defendant he said that he had drank five pints of cider.

McGrath gave a test reading of 41 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Representing himself in court McGrath said: "It was a horrendous mistake I made.

"I don't know what came over me. I have told my employers that I might not have a licence and I won't be able to carry on with my current job."

District judge Nigel Cadbury ordered McGrath to pay a £200 fine, £135 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

McGrath was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, which could be reduced by three months on completion of a drink driving awareness course.