A BAR manager targeted by a drink-spiker on a night out in Trowbridge is warning others to be alert this Christmas.

Kelly Dalziel described how a night out at pub karaoke almost ended in disaster after her drink was spiked with a mystery drug.

The 23-year-old's warning comes as Wiltshire Police unveiled its Has Your Drink Been Spiked? campaign with high-profile launches in north and west Wiltshire.

Miss Dalziel, who works in one of the town's biggest nightspots, said the effects of the drug lasted 24 hours with her memories completely wiped out.

"I woke up in the morning and had no idea where I was, how I got home or how I got into bed," she said.

"I was not in control of what I was doing. The next day I had blurred vision, I felt sick and it took me all day to get over it."

Luckily for Miss Dalziel, one of her friends spotted her worsening state and took her home, but the bar manager said her perception of the crime has changed for good.

"I reported it to the police a while after as I heard it had happened to a couple of other girls in Trowbridge. I never thought it could happen to me.

"I am very, very aware now. At work I check the toilets myself. I never leave a drink unattended any more. You think this happens in Manchester and Liverpool, but it happens in Trowbridge."

Posters, information cards and drink guards have been rolled out to pubs over Christmas and New Year to heighten awareness.

Police and landlords believe the trend of drink spiking is becoming more commonplace with victims not always reporting incidents.

Prescription drugs including Valium, Tamazepan and Rohypnol are in circulation as are GHB commonly known as liquid ecstasy and ketamine. Symptoms can appear within 15 minutes with tell-tale signs including vomiting and drowsiness. In extreme cases spiking can prove deadly.

Club Ice general manager Graham Fletcher said: "It is a sick crime. It is probably one of the worst crimes you can do to somebody. I believe people are spiking drinks for a laugh nowadays."

Bouncers working at the Westbury club, which is part-sponsoring the anti-spiking campaign, are updated on the latest drugs and frisk every clubber.

It is not illegal to carry prescription drugs but anyone found misusing them is committing an offence.

Trowbridge Pubwatch chairman Bill Austin said people had to take precautions.

West Wiltshire licensing officer Jacqui Gallimore said landlords could use specially-designed drink guards to place on unattended drinks.