Three motorists have been banned from the road for at least 18 months each after they were caught drink-driving during the petrol crisis.

They were among five arrested for driving with excess alcohol over the weekend. The other two will return to York Magistrates Court next month.

The court heard that Janice Elliff, 41, and Lee Edwards, 28, caused separate accidents and Christopher Hulmes, 28, was caught using his mobile phone at the wheel while popping out to buy cigarettes in the middle of the night.

All three pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Steven Ovenden, prosecuting, said Elliff was more than twice the alcohol limit and police were on the look-out for her vehicle after it was involved in a single-car accident just before midnight on Friday.

The mother from Carr Lane, Acomb, was fined £200 with £55 costs and banned for two years.

Defence solicitor Harry Bayman said she had just taken her son to the cinema. She suffers from depression.

Edwards collided with a parked car at 10.20pm on Saturday, said Mr Ovenden. He was nearly twice the alcohol limit.

Mr Bayman said he had thought he was safe to drive because he had not drunk for several hours. He had served a 21-month ban for drink-driving in 1995 and a prison sentence for breaking it in 1996.

Edwards, of Lawrence Street, off Hull Road, York, was banned for three years and fined £180 with £55 costs.

Police pulled Hulmes over because he was using a mobile phone while driving along Shipton Road just before 4am on Saturday, said Mr Ovenden.

Hulmes, of Temple Lane, Copmanthorpe, was fined £200 with £55 costs and banned for 18 months.

Mr Bayman said he had been to a city nightclub and on his return home by taxi had taken his car out to buy cigarettes.