She was also disqualified from driving for 3 years and 5 months and will have to take and extended re-test.

Sandra Walton, 46, of Manor Road in Guildford pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit.

Just after 7.30pm on 16 March, Walton was travelling southbound on the northbound lane of the dual carriageway, she collided with another car which, in turn, caused a further collision with two other vehicles.

A view of the debris strewn accident scene on the A331

Walton herself suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for emergency treatment. The other drivers received minor injuries and were treated at the scene by ambulance.

A full investigation followed and officers discovered that Walton was over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the incident, a back calculation was completed which suggested a range between 184-243 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood at time of collision, the legal limit is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. This seriously impaired her ability to drive safely.

Parts of three of the four cars can be made out in this photo. Fortunately there were no fatalities.

Sergeant Eddie Ryan, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The consequences that night could have been a lot worse and the driver was lucky that no one else was seriously injured. Driving whilst over the limit is illegal and not to mention extremely dangerous.

“I hope the driver has learnt her lesson and that today’s sentence will deter other drivers from putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.”