A VAN driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel while almost three times the drug limit.

Keith Robinson, of Carlisle Close, Winsford, was travelling in a Vauxhall Vivaro van in Park Road, Little Budworth, when he was caught on February 18 last year.

A subsequent blood test revealed the 56-year-old had 148µg/L of Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine breakdown product, in his system.

The legal limit is 50µg/L.

After initially denying a charge of drug-driving, Robinson changed his plea to guilty at Warrington Magistrates Court on May 3 this year, ahead of his trial.

Taking his admission into account, the bench disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him £300.

Robinson was also ordered to pay higher court costs of £250 as well as a surcharge of £120.