A truck driver in Lithuania has lost his licence after a breathalyser test revealed him to be 18 times over the legal alcohol limit.

When police pulled over Vidmantas Sungaila, 41, for driving his truck in the middle of a two-lane highway in the capital Vilnius, they thought their device was broken.

He registered 7.27 grams per litre of alcohol in his blood. Doctors say anything above 3.5 grams per litre of alcohol in the blood is usually lethal.

Sungaila, who was also fined, told police he had been drinking the night before and tried to freshen up by downing a pint of beer for breakfast.