A WORCESTERSHIRE councillor says it is "easy" to breach the drink driving limit - defending Adrian Hardman by saying his generation would barely think about the consequences.

Councillor Pam Davey, a Conservative at County Hall, has sparked controversy by saying people's attitudes used to be "have another, it won't hurt".

She also said she believes Councillor Hardman, who is quitting as leader next week after being arrested by police and charged with drink driving, should still play "a main part" in the leadership.

The remarks have been criticised by the opposition Labour group, with its leader calling them "clueless".

Councillor Davey was Worcestershire County Council's chairman for 12 months until last May, its leading civic figurehead.

She said: "Not only was Adrian leader for five years, for years prior to that he was deputy and the portfolio holder for finance.

"He's been in charge of the council's finances for years, which I'm very proud of - we've managed to keep libraries open and avoid a lot of things happening and all of that is, to a very large extent, down to Adrian.

"You can't defend drink driving but the tragedy is, it's easy to go over the limit - one of the things many people don't realise is that as you get older alcohol stays in your body longer."

The councillor, who represents Droitwich East, also said that Mr Hardman comes from "a generation where you didn't even think about it".

"People's attitudes were 'go on, have another it won't hurt'," she said.

"It's very sad that it happened and I hope Adrian will still be able to play a significant part in the running of the council."

Councillor Hardman, who was stopped by police three days before Christmas, has since apologised for "falling short" of the standards required for the top job, calling it "a gross misjudgement".

The 59-year-old will appear before Cheltenham magistrates on Monday, January 18 but has already said he intends to plead guilty and take "whatever punishment" they dish out.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said: "I was around in the 70s and it's crass stupidity to think everyone had this attitude.

"She's tarring everyone with the same brush, drink driving has killed and maimed a great number of people.

"There can be no excuse for it."