VETERAN TV presenter Chris Tarrant was today (Thursday) facing a 12-month driving ban after he was caught red handed well over the legal alcohol limit.

The 71-year-old lied to police officers when they arrived at his plush mansion in Bucklebury after pub staff had seen the former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter stumble out of the Bladebone Inn.

Staff had become concerned after Tarrant had bought four brandy and ports before walking towards his Mercedes car and driving to his home in Pease Hill, Bucklebury.

Grey-haired Tarrant, dressed in a blue suit and a stripey tie, admitted a single count of drink driving and was slapped with a £6,000 fine and banned from driving for 12 months.

Hasrat Ali, prosecuting at Reading Magistrates' Court, said: "On December 16, Tarrant had been drinking in the Bladebone Inn in Reading from 12.30pm onwards.

"He had been served four brandy and ports.

"Staff and other people in the pub were concerned that he had decided to drive home."

A district judge heard how Tarrant drove back to his home while members of the public phoned the police.

Officers arrived at Tarrant's home to question him but the 71-year-old told them he had been drinking indoors before they arrived.

Mrs Ali continued: "They spoke to Tarrant and he said that he had just drank three glasses of wine just prior to police arriving.

"He was asked to sign a pocket notepad to that effect and he refused.

"A road side breath test was taken and he failed that. He was taken to the police station.

"He was interviewed about the offence and he gave a different version of events in the sense that he said it was not three glasses he had drank but that in fact he had a large glass of brandy and a glass of wine."

Tarrant had 50 micrograms (mg) of alcohol per 100mg of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Simon Ray, defending Tarrant, said the 71-year-old had not drank all of the drinks he bought and claimed he stumbled because of a medical condition.

But Tarrant, of Pease Hill, Bucklebury, admitted the offence of driving while over the prescribed limit.

District Judge Shoman Khan slapped him with a £6,000 fine and ordered him to surrender his driving licence for 12 months.

He can drive from October 18 if he completes a rehabilitation course by August.

The judge added: "There is no evidence of any erratic driving.

"It (drink driving) puts others at risk."

Speaking after the hearing, Tarrant accepted he had made a mistake.

He said: "I am very sorry and I accept my punishment.

"I made a mistake and I have paid for it. I shouldn't have driven."

He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge fee of £170.