Brighton Bears basketball coach Nick Nurse is back on the road after a two-year ban for drink-driving.

He said his message for anyone who is thinking of driving after a drink is: "Don't".

Nurse, 37, who took the keys of a Bentley GT Continental to start driving again for the first time on Saturday, said: "It is great to be able to drive again. The last two years have been difficult.

"I have paid the price, man. I was foolish and I got caught.

"My advice to anyone thinking of drinking and driving is don't because you will eventually got caught.

"From now on at functions I will be drinking mineral water, blackcurrant and lemonade, and coke.

"I love meeting people and this will not effect my socialising or drumming up sponsorship for the Bears."

Nurse was banned from driving for 18 months in October 2002.

He had completed 14 months of the ban when, on January 24 this year, he was spotted twice by the same police officer driving the team's Chrysler on the A27 and the A23.

Magistrates extended the ban for another six months.

The Argus reported in February how Nurse, coach and owner of Brighton Bears, had apologised for letting fans down after admitting he had broken his ban.

Nurse has had a driving licence since the age of 14 but became reliant on buses during his ban.

Passengers on the No 2 and No 25 buses in Brighton and Hove got used to having him as a fellow commuter as he travelled from his home in Woodingdean to the Bears' training facilities at Falmer.

Friends have also helped out by giving him lifts and taxi firms have done well from his custom.

Nurse said he had stopped drinking since he was caught over the limit more than two years ago as he drove home from Gatwick.

It was at a time when he was involved in a relationship with his former partner, with whom he has a one year-old son, Noah, who is now in the States.

Nurse got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous even though he insisted he was just drinking socially, mostly with friends and business colleagues.

As well as having his ban extended by six months in February after admitting two charges of driving while disqualified, Nurse was fined £500 and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service.

Since giving up the booze the coach has lost almost two stone in weight.

Nurse will be back cheering on his team from the side of the Brighton Centre and The Triangle, Burgess Hill, where the Bears play their home games.

He said: "I have given up the booze and I am slimmer and fitter and feel better with myself.

"But I am the same Nick Nurse doing my best to make the Bears the top basketball team in Britain and Europe."