EASTENDERS actor Steve McFadden was yesterday banned from driving after a court heard he was stopped at the wheel of his Rolls-Royce after having drunk the equivalent of nine double vodkas.

His 18-month ban and fine of #1000, with #350 costs, were promptly condemned as too light by the Campaign Against Drink Driving.

Mrs Maria Cape, whose 16-year-old daughter Helen was killed by a drink-driver, said McFadden should have been fined the maximum #5000 and banned for several years.

McFadden, 34, who plays Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap, pleaded guilty at Horseferry Road Court in central London to driving with two-and-a-half times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

Stipendiary magistrate Roger Davies said the ban was lower than he had planned to impose because he realised the actor would suffer from the disqualification.

Mrs Cape said later of the actor: ``He can easily afford #1000. He probably makes 10 times that a week. He should have been made an example of and banned for much longer. He must be able to afford a taxi. It's just arrogance to think you can get away with it.''

The court was told the actor had originally planned to fight the case on grounds that his drinks were spiked at a party at a London nightclub, but was advised it would be too hard to prove.

Mr Nazir Afzal, prosecuting, said McFadden, of Kentish Town, north-west London, left the club at 3am on March 16 and was seen to drive the 23-year-old Rolls-Royce in an erratic manner.

He was speeding and weaving along the road. He came close to hitting a central bollard in Waterloo Road before swerving erratically.

Stopped by police, who pointed out his driving fault, the actor replied: ``Yeah, I know. But the roads are quiet and I have been out tonight.''

He told police he had drunk three pints of beer at 10.30pm but Mr Afzal told the court that a breath test showed he had 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Mr Afzal said: ``This suggests he had been drinking way in excess of that. He would have had to have the equivalent of nine double vodkas.''

Nick Freeman, defending, said the actor was proud of his driving record. He owned six motorcycles, three cars, and a van and had never been involved in any accidents.

Mr Freeman said: ``When Mr McFadden left the nightclub he did not feel intoxicated. Had he felt intoxicated, he would not have driven.''

The driving ban would cause the actor hardship because of the amount of travelling he did: to the EastEnders' studio and location shooting, and to personal appearances, which made up a third of his income.

McFadden, who was ``genuinely sorry'', would also face difficulties playing for two charity celebrity football teams, taking his 10-year-old son to school, and getting to his family's second home in Cornwall, said Mr Freeman.

McFadden arrived at the court on a red motor scooter, but left on foot.

He is the third EastEnders star to appear in court for drink-driving recently.

His screen wife Gillian Taylforth, and Letitia Dean, his former screen sister-in-law Sharon, have both been convicted of the offence.