Black Country councillor Fiona Latter is to quit politics after being banned from the roads for drink-driving and fleeing the scene of a crash.

Coun Latter, who sits on the licensing committee at Wolverhampton City Council and has campaigned on road safety issues, blamed the accident on a Christmas party that "got out of hand" and the pressures of her job.

The 29 year old was arrested after her car hit two vehicles while she was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

The Conservative representative for Wednesfield South, she said yesterday she had decided to step down from the council before she committed the offence, which happened after a Christmas party on December 29. She will not contest next month's local elections.

Coun Latter, who entered politics at the age of 26, said the crash was the worst moment of her life.

"It was a nightmare situation," she explained. "It was a Christmas party that had got out of hand.

"I feel dreadful about it. It was the worst thing that has ever happened. Of course I apologise to the voters. But this never had any impact to my committment to the people of Wednesfield and I can hold my head up high in the community because of my work.

"I think there is extra responsibility with public office. I did take on this job at a young age and there is a lot of pressure for a young person to take on.

"I do know in hindsight that things had got to me. There was too much pressure for someone of a young age."

Coun Latter said she did not not regret going into politics and was proud of her record.

"But as I got involved at a young age I feel that the time is right for to take a break," she added.

She said Tory leaders had asked her to continue, but she had decided to step down last year and now intends to complete a university degree.

It is understood she was driving a Fiat Bravo along Langley Road, in Merry Hill, when she crashed into a Toyota Yaris and a Citroen C5, leaving the scene without giving her details.

She was believed to have been arrested at her home a short time later and had 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Yesterday, she added: "I have expressed contrition and I have expressed regret. It was a horrendous situation but I have got to get on with my life.

"The main thing is that, thankfully, no one was hurt."

Latter, of Corfton Drive, Tettenhall, was fined £980 and ordered to pay £35 costs when she appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

She was disqualified from driving for 24 months for driving with no licence, insurance and after consuming more than the legal limit of alcohol, and for failing to stop after an accident.

The disqualification will be reduced by six months if she completes a rehabilitation course.

Coun Latter had campaigned for increased safety measures on a road in her ward after residents had complained about being awoken by the sound of vehicles losing control.

A £40,000 safety scheme, including new signs and road markings, was promised for the A4124 Lichfield Road.

Coun Latter said in February that she had received correspondence from several people who were concerned about the road.

"It is a very busy road, it needs to be high on the agenda for something to be done," she said. ..SUPL: