A DRIVER downed four cans of beer at in under an hour one morning before getting behind the wheel on a crowded road.

David Hughes, 38, had driven to the T in the Park music festival near Kinross, Scotland, and initially parked his car at 8.30am before cracking open the beers and drinking them in 45 minutes.

Perth Sheriff Court heard he was in the wrong car park and a steward asked him to move.

Despite being more than double the legal drink-drive limit, Hughes drove off – only to be reported for drink driving by the same steward.

Hughes, of Grace Road, Ellesmere Port, admitted drink driving on the A91 Cupar to Stirling road on July 12.

Fiscal depute Janine Bates said: “It was 9.30am and the traffic flow was heavy. A large number of pedestrians were walking on the carriageway.”

Hughes was stopped by officers and gave a positive breath test. He was then taken to police HQ in Perth.

Defending, David Sinclair said his client, who works for a chemical company, was told he was in the wrong car park by the steward at 9.30am.

Mr Sinclair added: “By this time he had had some cans of lager. Four cans.

“He had driven from the North West of England, arrived at the festival, and got into the party spirit there and then.

“On being told by the steward his option was to move the car or have it towed away, he made the mistake of driving on the public highway to the other car park.

“He accepts he has made a severe error of judgment but asks the court to take into consideration the limited distance he was required to travel.”

Sheriff Robert McCreadie expressed surprise that anyone would drink so much alcohol at such an early hour.

Hughes was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £800.