A MOTHER who drove her two-year-old daughter in a car while nearly four times over the drink-drive limit claims the reading was so high because she had drunk mouthwash.

Catherine Unsworth has pleaded guilty to being on the road while under the influence of alcohol, but said the mouth freshener had led to the very high reading.

At Bolton Magistrates Court yesterday, the 36-year-old's case was adjourned for four weeks for a pre-trial review to be prepared.

An expert will now put together a report saying whether the mouthwash could have affected the tests.

The single mother, of Monks Lane, Breighmet, was driving down Stitch-mi-Lane, Harwood, in August with her daughter in the passenger seat when she crashed into a Mitsubishi Colt.

Alan Bakker, prosecuting, said police were called and noticed Unsworth smelled strongly of alcohol.

She was given a breath test which proved positive.

Her sample showed 122mgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath. The drink-drive limit is 35mgs.

Andrew Cresswell, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty last month but would be claiming special reasons led to her being over the limit.

He said: "What she has told me is that, in her opinion, but for the mouthwash she consumed before driving, she does not believe she would have been over the limit and would have been fit to drive."

Magistrates agreed to adjourn the case until December 12. Unsworth was released on unconditional bail but remains disqualified from driving.

She has pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while exceeding the drink-drive limit, careless driving and drunk on a highway while having a child under the age of seven years in her charge.

Although she has admitted the offences, if the special reasons are proven by the expert she could be discharged by the bench.