A DRUNK 29-year-old man from Runcorn walked along junction 10 of the M56 during an attempt to visit his family in Manchester, a court heard.

Jason McAuley pleaded guilty to being a pedestrian on a special road at Halton Magistrates’ Court last Friday, following the incident which took place in Stretton, Warrington, during the night of December 3.

McAuley, of Masseyfield Road, Brookvale, claimed he was 'just walking home' to see his family before being stopped by traffic workers and is said to have threatened to jump in front of a lorry.

Prosecuting, Alison Warburton, said: "Police were responding to a report of a male walking to Manchester.

"An officer saw him at junction 10 and realised that he was drunk."

McAuley has one previous conviction for a public order matter and represented himself in court, but admitted that he instantly regretted his actions from earlier this month.

"I was very drunk and it happened after I had an argument," he said.

"I have got family in Manchester and that is why I decided to walk there to see them but it was stupid of me.

"But I did not say that I was going to jump in front of a lorry to anyone who was there, that did not happen."

He was challenged on the denial by the prosecution due to his intoxicated state at the time but remained adamant that he would have remembered making such a threat.

Chairman of the bench John Gartside condemned McAuley for his behaviour and raised the issue of potential consequences that could have taken place.

"It is not just the impact it could have had on you, it could also have had an impact on other people," he said.

McAuley received a £60 offence for the crime.