A man desperate for loo roll set off on a drunken 40-mile round trip while almost three times the legal limit.

Chef Matthew Burrows was caught short in more ways than one after he was stopped by police in Herne Bay's High Street after downing beers during the World Cup final.

The 29-year-old - who had driven 20 miles from his home in Nonington, Dover, to buy the essentials - tried to run off but was chased down by officers and arrested.

The court heard his silver Alfa Romeo had been seen swerving across the road and clipping a kerb.

Defending, Lucy Welch said: "Mr Burrows had been spending his one night off that week watching the World Cup final at home.

"He had been drinking cans of beer and hadn't intended to go out that evening.

"But then he realised he had run out of toilet roll. He thought the only place he could get the provisions was at an all-night garage, so off he went."

For some reason, Burrows - head chef at the exclusive Broome Park golf club - chose to drive to Herne Bay, despite there being dozens of late-night stores nearer his home.

It proved his downfall, as an off-duty policeman spotted him careering through the town before pulling up outside a bank.

The eagle-eyed officer had already alerted colleagues, who were on the scene within minutes and caught up with Burrows.

A breath test showed he had 98mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35mg.

He admitted drink driving at Canterbury Magistrates' Court yesterday and was banned from the road for two years.

He was also hit with £85 costs and ordered to do 70 hours unpaid work.