A VAN driver caught behind the wheel after taking cannabis has been banned from the roads.

John Day, of Marshall Lane, Northwich, had been travelling in a Citroen Berlingo van along Walnut Avenue, Weaverham, when he was caught on November 29 last year.

A subsequent blood test revealed the 49-year-old had 3.3µg/L of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis) in his system.

The legal limit is 2µg/L.

When he was caught, Day was also found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis.

He appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 1, where he admitted charges of possessing class A and B drugs and changed his plea to guilty for the drink driving offence.

Taking his pleas into account, magistrates disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him a total of £240.

Day must also pay £120 in court costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as a £96 surcharge.

An order was also made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, which will be carried out by the police.