High society fashion designer Selina Blow, 52, has persuaded magistrates to lift a three year drink driving ban nine months early.

The mum of two, who counts Bianca Jagger and Lulu Guinness among her friends, received the ban from Cheltenham Magistrates in August 2016.

The court heard she was caught committing a drink-drive offence - her second - by an ambulance driver who put on his flashing blue lights when he saw her weaving all over the road in Gloucestershire.

He was so concerned about the mum-of-two's driving that he pulled her over, took the keys of her Mercedes and then called the police, Cheltenham Magistrates were told.

The court imposed the three year ban and ordered her to pay £635 in fines and costs.

But now Blow, of Kimsbury Farm, Upton Hill, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester, has been back to the magistrates with an application to lift the ban nine months ahead of time - and she has succeeded.

After hearing her application the magistrates ordered the removal of the ban with immediate effect but warned her that the decision does not mean she can drive immediately.

She was told she first has to apply to the DVLA for the return of her licence and wait till it is in her possession before she can get back behind the wheel.

At the original hearing 27 months ago the court was told she was driving home from a friend's house where she had intended to spend the night after a supper party.

But she had a 2am call from her baby sitter saying she could not look after her daughter all night after all - and took the decision to drive home rather than call a taxi.

The court heard that the offence was committed against a background of her having post traumatic stress disorder following her 'unpleasant' divorce from society doctor Charles Levinson - and personal problems with anxiety, depression, and Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Blow pleaded guilty to having 50mcgs of alcohol in her breath. The legal alcohol limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Peter Ashby said "She was caught because a paramedic in an ambulance was driving on 7th August at 2.30am and noticed her vehicle change direction on the Longford roundabout in Gloucester without any warning or signal.

"It turned onto the Northern by-pass towards Elmbridge Court. It was then travelling behind the ambulance. In the rear view mirror the ambulance driver saw that the woman driver, who was the only occupant of the Mercedes, was weaving all over the road from lane to lane.

"She was getting close to the back of the ambulance and then slowing down again. There was concern about her driving.

"The paramedic pulled in to let her pass. She cut up a taxi in the process in that it had to brake to avoid a collision."

Mr Ashby said the ambulance continued to follow her and her driving was still erratic.

The paramedic noticed a police car parked there so he illuminated his ambulance blue lights to draw the attention of the police and Blow.

"The Mercedes stopped as a result of this. The paramedic spoke to the driver. He told her he was not the police and he asked for her car keys. She passed them over.

"Shortly afterwards the police arrived on the scene. A PC did a roadside breath test which was positive and she was arrested.

"Interviewed, she admitted driving from a party towards her home address and stopping for blue lights.

Defence solicitor Tim Newman handed the court a letter from Blow and two references.

He said she had not slept the night before the offence because she had arrived home in the early hours from being away. That evening she cooked supper for her children and then left for a party, intending to stay the night.

"She was rung at about 2am by her baby sitter saying she had a problem with her own son and she had to leave.

"She had not slept for 24 hours and had effectively not eaten all that day and she then made a decision she bitterly, bitterly, regrets. She has in my presence today cursed herself repeatedly for the sheer stupidity of what she did,

"I expect the offence was in part due to tiredness not what she drank.

"She was very, very tired and made a stupid decision and she is going to have to live with the consequences of that.

"She is a fashion designer who has run her own business for 25 years. She is also the sole administrator of a 200 acre farm with livery business.

"She has to go to London once a week to her workshop. She does 6 to 10 fashion shows a year to promote her business. Doing this is now going to be very difficult because she always goes by car to carry stock. Public transport is not an easy option.

"Her home is highly mortgaged and if the business takes a hit as a result of her being disqualified that is going to cause her real difficulty.

"Her daughter goes to school in Cheltenham, a half hour drive away from home. Her home is down a rutted farm track 3 miles from the nearest bus stop.

"Her son is at Oxford so not an issue but she will have to make some arrangements for her daughter.

"She also has a cousin in Sussex with Huntington's Disease and is in charge of her care. She goes to visit her regularly and that is now also going to be extremely difficult.

"You will have read about her fundraising work. That is going to become difficult as well. She is in need of support and help."

Mr Newman went on "She has asked me to make clear that she is extremely sorry. She realises the difficult position she has put her family in after rebuilding her life following a very difficult divorce. She is now in a very difficult place and bitterly regrets that she did something so stupid."

Blow herself told the court "I am very horrified and upset by my behaviour, particularly because I have worked very hard to get over a very difficult period. To let myself down was horrific. I made a very stupid decision."

Gloucestershire born Blow's father was English and her mother Sri Lankan. Her grandfather was the Arts & Crafts Architect, Detmar Blow.

Her first fashion collection was based on Ivan the Terrible and she established a market in America, Japan and Europe.

Pieces from Blow’s collection are shown at the V&A and The Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Her 'edgy' designs have been worn by William Hague’s wife Ffion and singer Debbie Harry.

It was six years ago that her ­marriage to former society ­physician Dr Charles Levinson, the father of her two children, broke down.

Guests at the couple's 1998 wedding had included fashionistas Bianca Jagger and Lulu Guinness.