A BUILDER was so desperate not to miss work he got behind the wheel of a car, without a licence, insurance or test certificate, a court was told.

Philip Michael Evans, aged 28, of Strangford Street, Radcliffe, admitted driving in Brunswick Street, Heywood, without documents.

He told magistrates at Rochdale that he was normally given a lift to the various building sites by a friend but, when his workmate failed to turn up, he felt he could not run the risk of not going to work himself.

Magistrates banned him from driving for two months and fined him a total of £200 with £42 costs.

Evans had a previous conviction for which he had been disqualified for three years in 1999.