Legal debate delays drink drive trial for Paul Gascoigne

At one point the former England footballer was representing himself after his lawyer withdrew from the case at Northallerton Magistrates Court in Yorkshire.

Mr Gascoigne, 43, is accused of driving a Ford Transit van while more than four times the limit on 7 February at Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire.

The court was told he was found to have 467 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107 milligrams. He denies the charge and also denies driving without insurance.

Mr Gascoigne was due to be represented by lawyer Stephen Andrews but he withdrew after lengthy legal discussions.

Mr Andrews told magistrates he had only recently been instructed and needed more time to prepare and call witnesses.

He also said some of the legal documents relating to the case had been sent to Mr Gascoigne's old address in Jesmond.

The court was told Mr Gascoigne now lives at his father's house in Gateshead and had spent time in rehabilitation and at a holiday cottage. But Mr Andrews' application was dismissed by the magistrates, who accused Mr Gascoigne of deliberately creating a delay..

They said they intended to hear the case along with that of co-accused Michael Harvey, who later admitted being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the limit.

However, magistrates had to fix a new two-day trial date for 13 December due to the time taken in legal debate.

Mr Andrews said he expected to represent Mr Gascoigne at the rescheduled hearing next month.