POLICE arrested a drunk driver after her Nissan 'swerved onto a Southbourne pavement and almost hit pedestrians', a court has heard.

Karen Dudley, 60, was more than three times the drink-drive limit when she was stopped in Southbourne Grove on August 21.

She has now been stripped of her licence for almost four years.

Dudley, of Pinecliffe Avenue, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court last week to admit the charge against her.

Magistrates took the step of banning her for 45 months – one of the longest disqualifications handed out by a court for a single count of drink driving – and she was also fined £480 and ordered to pay a surcharge and costs.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "We were called at 6.46pm on Wednesday, August 21 to reports that a blue Nissan Note had driven onto the pavement and almost collided with pedestrians.

"Officers attended and arrested the driver."