A DRIVER stopped by police in Skipton because of his driving had been taking cannabis, heard magistrates.

Jake Barton, 23, was seen by police making an 'erratic manoeuvre' in his Skoda Fabia on Cavendish Street in the early hours of April 1, the court heard on Friday.

Barton was stopped, a roadside alcohol breath test was negative but a drugs swipe test at the roadside was positive for cannabis., the court heard.

He was taken to the police station for a blood sample which later showed he had 3.1 microgrammes of cannabis by-product THC in 100 millilitres of blood, the specified limit is two.

Barton, of Greenfield Gardens, Eastburn, who admitted drugs driving, told the court he had been dropping a friend off in the area and had not been driving badly, but admitted he had taken drugs.

Magistrates told Barton that drugs stayed in the system longer than he might think and the best thing to do was not to take them at all.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.