Footballer hit with ban after drink driving

FORMER England and Arsenal footballer Paul Merson was banned from driving for 14 months at Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington on Wednesday.

Merson, pictured outside the justice centre, crashed his Mercedes ML350 into a 38-tonne lorry after falling asleep at the wheel on the M40 near Warwick in October. He admitted a charge of drink driving.

The Sky Sports pundit, who was also fined £1,500, had 124mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - the legal limit is 80mg. He failed a roadside breath test at the scene of the crash and was later treated at Warwick Hospital for a cut to his head.