A disgraced pharmacist who lost control of his car while almost three times over the drink-driving alcohol limit will not lose his career.

Michael Murray, 55, faced being struck off after drinking half a bottle of vodka and two beers before giving his daughter a lift to work.

The pharmacist was so drunk he careered off the road five miles into the journey, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society heard.

But yesterday a disciplinary panel ruled that no further action should be taken after hearing that Murray had completed a drink-driving rehabilitation course and passed a DVLA medical screening test.

Murray, of Thornhill, in Chacombe, near Banbury, qualified in 1974 and worked as an industrial pharmacist.

No-one was injured in the accident on the B4525 near Greatworth, on January 15 last year, but Murray's Citroen Saxo was badly damaged.

He was found to have 101mcg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - almost three times over the limit.

He pleaded guilty at Towcester Magistrates' Court and was fined £750 and ordered to pay £55 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 months and ordered to attend the drink-driving rehabilitation course.