A DRUNK driver almost ran down a crowd of clubbers outside Mr Smith's nightclub.

Stephen Thorpe reached speeds approaching 70mph during the incident. The majority of a crowd of 30 people outside Mr Smith's managed to jump out of his way.

The 26-year-old was jailed for eight months at Warrington Crown Court on Friday after admitting dangerous driving and driving under the influence excess alcohol.

He had become upset after seeing his ex-girlfriend on a night out and was more than twice the legal limit.

He claims he panicked and raced off when a police car followed him from Museum Street.

Thorpe's car hit a kerb and deflated a tyre before it raced up towards Bank Quay station and forced two vehicles to swerve out the way to avoid a head on crash.

He stopped by the station and ran off but was caught by the police officer.

Thorpe, from St Helens, committed the offence at 12.25am on Sunday, July 31.

His defence Mark Lebroq told the court Thorpe made the 'foolhardy decision' to drive off from the police because he had recently got a job as a van driver.

Recorder John Jarman QC jailed Thorpe and banned him from driving for three years, saying: "This was an appalling piece of driving.

"How no-one was injured is an absolute miracle."