CANTERBURY city councillor Richard Parkinson has lost his licence for drink driving.

Magistrates heard the 57-year-old Liberal Democrat member was driving at twice the legal drink limit when he was pulled over by police in Nackington Road, Canterbury, in the early hours of Friday, February 27.

Cllr Parkinson was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £240 plus £43 costs at Ashford Court. He had admitted drink driving.

Prosecutor Evelyn Hawkins said: "His vehicle was travelling at 20mph over the speed limit and was crossing over the hazard line in the centre of the road.

"[The police] stopped the vehicle. He had recently consumed intoxicating liquor - he was unsteady and there was a smell of alcohol on his breath.

"He said he had been drinking, but could not remember how much. He then gave a positive breath test."

Cllr Parkinson, of Best Lane, Canterbury, gave a reading of 84 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Cllr Parkinson said that his problems that day were caused by a cancelled train, adding that he had drunk some wine with a late lunch.

Cllr Parkinson said a driving a ban would affect his £15,000-a-year business as a picture restorer.

After the case, he said he would remain on the city council as a member for the Westgate ward and was still in line to become Canterbury's Sheriff , the deputy to the Lord Mayor.