A BMW driver who fled a crash scene after hitting another car has been banned from the roads.

Joshua Neil Pugh entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were on patrol in Hereford at around 11pm on July 7 when they were called to a car crash involving a BMW and an Audi in Hafod Road, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

On arrival they found the BMW had crashed into the back of the Audi, causing damage, but witnesses reported its driver had run from the scene.

A search of the vehicle revealed a driving licence belonging to Pugh's girlfriend, while the car was registered to another family member with Pugh a named driver.

Officers went to his Gorsty Lane home, where they found his girlfriend, who said he had been out that evening watching the football before contacting him and telling him he needed to return home.

When Pugh arrived at the home, he told officers he had run away because he had panicked and admitted that he had been behind the wheel when the crash happened.

An evidential breath test taken after Pugh failed a roadside breath test revealed he had 46 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Pugh, said the 31-year-old had made a full and frank admission to police.

"He has just recently become self employed and this will have an impact on his income and employment, and clearly he appreciates he should not have driven the car that evening," she said.

Pugh was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £276. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.