Occasional Babyshambles front man and full-time media circus Pete Doherty is making "good progress" in getting his life together, a judge has said.

Pete "I blame the drugs" Doherty is once more in court over alleged possession of heroin, crack and cannabis.

But the district judge hearing the case has proved upbeat about the erratic musician, saying that Doherty's "determination was increasing" in his battle to straighten up.

Despite giving a positive result on a court ordered drugs test, his solicitor Sean Curran told the court that a negative drugs test was a "genuinely achievable objective", reports the BBC.

"It is very good progress and clearly a positive start. It seems that his determination is increasing," said judge Jane McIvor.

"It is not expected to get a negative test in the first review period but I hope that opiate replacement will happen in the next period."

Doherty is due to reappear in court next Thursday on a separate set of drugs charges.