A gym owner who crashed into a parked car as he drove home from a Christmas party was found to be more three times the legal drink drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Poole was also a personal trainer to a number of elite athletes and his work in that sphere would make it difficult for him to comply with a community order.

The magistrates agreed with submissions from his solicitor, Gareth Price, that he should be dealt with by way of a higher level fine and he was landed with a total bill of £2,417.

Poole, 35, of Blackburn Road, Turton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £1,666 with a £666 victim surcharge and £85 costs and banned from driving for 27 months.

The court heard Poole gave a breathalyser reading of 111 micrograms per 100ml of breath, against the legal limit of 35mcg.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said police were alerted to a road traffic incident at 1.45am on December 26.

When they arrived at Blacksnape Road, Darwen, they saw a BMW had been shunted into metal railings.

They located a black Audi, which had damage in line with it being involved in a collision with the BMW, and it was registered to Poole.

"They attended his home address and he admitted driving the car on Blacksnape Road when it collided with a parked BMW," he added.

Gareth Price, in mitigation, said his client had been to a Christmas function and his expectation was that he would be staying over.

"Something happened which made him change his plans and he foolishly decided to drive home," he told the court.

He said Poole was a director of two gyms, one in Bolton and one in Darwen and also worked with elite athletes as a personal trainer.

"He travels nationwide and abroad to support these athletes," said Mr Price.

"There is an event in Dubai next month which he is required to attend."

Mr Price said it would be difficult for his client while he was disqualified but he accepted he had brought it on himself.