The driver who careered off the road and destroyed two Oxford Road shop fronts has been disqualified from driving for 16 months today.

Lisa Downing had been at the pub when in the early hours of February 28 she decided to drive home before loosing control of the Peugeot 206.

She mounted the pavement and crashed into the Christian Community Action and Shazz Hair and Beauty shops, causing an estimated £100,000.

The 29-year-old, had intended to leave her car at the pub, but believed she was able to drive herself and two passengers home.

She had hit a traffic island and careered off the road, destroying the front of both shops before fleeing the scene.

One person was trapped and one other was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Prosecuting at Reading Magistrates court, Jennifer Riddell said that Downing had 102 milligrams of alcohol in her blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood.

She said: "In relation to the damage of the shops. The shops' insurance companies could not give an exact figure. However the damage is in excess of £100,000, so significant damage to the shops."

Defending, Sally Thomson said: "Ms Downing had been at the pub that evening. It was not her intention to drive home. The other two people in the car were friends of hers.

"She made a really stupid mistake which as you have hears has caused a lot of damage."

Downing, of Elm Park Road, Reading, admitted a single charge of drink driving.

She was disqualified from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay £190 fine, and a victim surcharge of £20.