A DRUNK driver was found behind the wheel of a car stopped on the dual carriageway section of the A78 — fast ASLEEP.

Allyson Weir was snoozing with the engine of the Mini Cooper still running whilst she was more than five times the legal alcohol limit.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how a concerned off-duty police officer had pulled up to see if she was alright and was taken aback by the smell of booze from the car.

Prosecutor Meghan Glancey said: "The officer was travelling southbound on the A78 Inverkip Road when he observed that a black Mini Cooper had stopped.

"He decided to ask if the occupant required any assistance but observed the accused asleep in the driver's seat, with the key in the ignition and the engine running.

"The officer managed to wake the accused and he noticed that her words were slurred and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her."

Fiscal depute Miss Glancey added: "The officer telephoned on-duty colleagues who attended at the locus and moved the Mini to a safe place off the carriageway.

"The accused provided a positive roadside breath test and was then taken to Govan police office where she was breathalysed as libelled."

Weir, of Bournemouth Road, Gourock, had 117mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 22mcg.

She was found by the off-duty officer near the A78's junction with Dunrod Road at around 4.30pm on March 8.

Her not guilty pleas to charges of being a provisional licence holder driving solo without 'L' plates and not being insured for the vehicle were accepted by the Crown.

Defence lawyer Edel McGinty said: "The car belongs to her mother."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton continued the case until May 2 for the defence to provide evidence of Weir's ability to carry out unpaid work.