MAGISTRATES labelled a drink-driver's test results as unbelievable after hearing he was caught near Melksham at more than four times the legal limit.

Anthony Crayford, 50, of Sarum Avenue, Melksham, gave an alcohol reading of 349mg per 100ml of blood one of the highest readings ever recorded in west Wiltshire. The legal limit is 80mg.

Magistrates use a chart to set the length of ban they give to drink-drivers, but Crayford's reading was off the scale.

He admitted drink driving on the A365 at Shaw on August 27 when he appeared before Chippenham magistrates on Thursday and could face a jail term.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said a police patrol had spotted Crayford driving erratically in Melksham town centre at 6am and followed his Austin Metro towards Shaw with their blue light flashing.

She said: "Police estimated the speed of the vehicle to be 25mph, but it continued to swerve across the road even at that speed. Eventually the vehicle came to a halt at the Shaw traffic lights.

"Other road users would have been put in serious danger by the defendant's driving."

Roger Stanbury, defending, said: "This is a very high reading. I can tell you that the alcohol problem which he has now acknowledged is being addressed through the NHS and various drug related teams."

The chairman of the bench, Sue Griffin, told Crayford: "Your reading is beyond what we would expect. It's unbelievable, this amount of alcohol. At that level we are considering custody for you."

Crayford was given an interim driving ban while his case was adjourned for reports.

Three other drink-drivers were given bans by the court, highlighting the scale of the problem facing police in west and north Wiltshire.

Pub worker Neil Phillips told magistrates he had never had driving lessons when he admitted drink driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

The 25-year-old gave an alcohol reading of 87mg per 100ml of breath, which is two and a half times over the limit, after being arrested at Bremhill, Calne, on October 1.

Phillips had been drinking that evening but drove his partner's car to the scene after getting threatening text messages and phone calls from his ex-partner.

Mr Stanbury, defending, said: "Clearly that was a very stupid thing to do, especially as he had no insurance or licence."

Phillips, of Hales Road, Netheravon, Salisbury, was given an interim ban while the case was adjourned for reports and he could face a community penalty as well as a fine.

Trowbridge painter and decorater Steven Smith, 39, was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £100 and ordered to pay £43 costs after admitting drink-driving.

Smith, of Lambrok Road, gave a just-over-the-limit alcohol reading of 119mg per 100ml of urine after being stopped by police on the A363 at Farleigh Wick on September 1.

Factory worker Royston Hudd, 37, gave an alcohol reading of 82mg per 100ml of breath after police stopped his Rover in Chippenham on September 15.

Hudd, of Langley Road, Chippenham, admitted drink driving, but his case was adjourned until today so he could produce his driving licence and insurance.