AN engineer was so drunk while driving that she split a tree in half after crashing in to it in her Mini – then tried to drive off.

Marie Graham, who works as an IT engineer, got behind the wheel following a dinner date with a friend last month.

The 53-year-old was so drunk that she lost control of her black Mini, hit a boulder and careered along on the wrong side of the road in Howwood, before splitting the tree in two and hitting a fence.

Graham, of Howwood, admitted her guilt when she appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court.

The court heard she was nearly four times the drink drive limit when she was caught on August 19.

She was banned from driving for 14 months and fined £500.