A pensioner crashed into three cars before smashing into the back of a lorry during a drunken 'moment of madness' in the middle of the afternoon.

Carol Rose, 71, was nearly twice the drink drive limit when she got behind the wheel of her Toyota Aygo at 3.40pm on April 26.

The dashcam on the front of her own vehicle shows her hitting the kerb, after she leaves her Ainsdale house, before smashing a wing mirror when she drives into a car parked on the other side of the road.

Carol Rose, 71, from Ainsdale, hit three cars before crashing into a lorry in a drunken rampage

She carries on, next hitting a Jeep Cherokee, sending debris flying into the air.

Rose, who has hearing and eyesight problems, ploughed on regardless past children and parents leaving Merefield Special School. At one stage the video shows the school's lollipop man.

The pensioner destroyed the wing mirror of a car parked to her left before repeatedly mounting the pavement.

The journey only came to an end when she smashed into the back of a large van parked directly in front of her - causing her car to roll over and the airbags to deploy.

Rose hit the kerb as she pulled out, before hitting three cars as she drove through Ainsdale, when she was nearly twice the legal limit

Her journey came to a halt when she smashed into a lorry parked on the side of the road

Liverpool Crown Court heard residents rushed to her aid and called police after finding her disorientated and smelling of alcohol.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said she was unsteady on her feet, but claimed she had only drunk two glasses of wine.

She was twice unable to complete a breath test so was taken to a police station where she gave a blood sample.

Rose, who had 156mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - almost twice the limit of 80mg - made no comment to police.

The first victim did not make a statement, but the owner of the second car said her Toyota Jeep Land Cruiser was written off. The third driver said a replacement wing mirror cost him nearly £90, while the van driver did not provide any details.

The dashcam on the front of her car caught the rampage, and flew out of focus after the final smash, showing the damage to her car

One of the cars was written off after Rose smashed into it, and another was repaired for £90

Rose, who has no previous convictions and a clean driving record, admitted dangerous driving and drink driving.

Eric Lamb, defending, said the OAP - supported in court by her estranged husband - passed her driving test at 22, in 1967.

He said she was genuinely remorseful and made no comment to police because it was the 'immediate aftermath'.

Rose has arthritis of the knees and back, reduced mobility because of a leg injury, plus problems with her sight and hearing.

Mr Lamb said the pensioner - who had to sit in front of the judge to hear him - also suffered from anxiety and depression

Recorder Graham Wells told Rose her driving was 'awful', to which she replied: 'I know it was, it was dreadful.'

He added it was 'really, really frightening' and she responded: 'I feel sorry and very ashamed.'

She was banned from driving for three years and given a suspended sentence

Recorder Wells said: 'The police described it as horrendous and persistent and I was shocked when I saw the CCTV.

'You collided with four vehicles. The last vehicle was on your side of the road and you drove straight into the back of it.

'It was scary to see you were on the pavement and missing the lampposts by inches.

'You drove like that past a school where there were children coming out and they are children I'm told who have special needs.

'When you watch the car go from side to side on the road, the police are absolutely right, it was a real miracle nobody was hurt.'

Recorder Wells said he took into account her previous good character, adding: 'This must have been a moment of madness.'

He handed her eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision and a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

The judge banned her from the road for three years and said she must take an extended retest before ever driving again.