A ‘tip off’ led to a farmer with a milk round being stopped by police as he left a hotel in Earby after drinking, heard Skipton magistrates.

North Yorkshire Police crossed over into Lancashire to stop James Frankland, who was driving a Isuzu Trooper, on Skipton Road, on June 9, the court heard.

He admitted he had been drinking and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Frankland, who admitted drink driving, had a milk round and was at the hotel trying to get business, the court was told.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Frankland was past retirement age and following the breakdown of his marriage had moved from the family farm in Gisburn.

He had no reason to believe he had offended someone, but someone called the police, said Mr Mewies.

He had just left the hotel car park and was driving the short distance home when he was stopped.

Mr Mewies said Frankland was committed to his milk round – which he carried out between 3am and 10am – and had already got someone to drive him.

Frankland, of Skipton Road, Earby, was banned from driving for a year and fined £200, with costs of £85 and surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 12 weeks.