Wiltshire police are stepping up their Drink Drive campaign as the party season gets under way.

And not only are they carrying out vehicle spot checks during the evenings and asking motorists to take a breath test if they suspect they have been drinking, but are also carrying out checks in the mornings.

Often a partygoer would have not driven on the night of the festivities thinking they were fit to drive the next morning. But they could still be over the limit.

This week, the police were issuing a fresh appeal to all motorists not to drink and drive over Christmas and are warning those who ignore the advice they stand a good chance of getting caught.

As the holiday period nears, a great many people will be attending parties or just going out celebrating with friends and family. The temptation to 'just have a few drinks' before driving home is one the police warn must be resisted.

Sgt Dave Melvin, Wiltshire Constabulary's road safety officer, said reminders are necessary because, despite the success of campaigns over the years, there is still work to be done to persuade those who ignore the message.

To illustrate this, the police have revealed that in a four-day mid-week period last week, 12 drivers were arrested for drink driving across the force.

Sgt Melvin said: "We are not saying to anyone 'don't go out and have a drink and enjoy yourself' we are just saying don't mix that with driving.

"Alcohol is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream and affects your judgement. Just one drink will impair

a driver's ability to

judge speed and distance accurately.

"The risk of being involved in a road collision and injuring yourself or others, or killing someone, is significantly increased if you drink and drive."

For those who think they are 'all right after a couple of drinks', the police are reinforcing the message that these people could not be more wrong.

Sgt Melvin continued: "There is no failsafe guide

as to how much you can drink and stay under the legal limit.

"The amount and type of alcoholic drink, a person's weight, sex, age and metabolism are all variable factors. The only safe amount of alcohol you can have, if you are driving, is none.

He added: "The widespread acceptance that drink driving is anti-social means there

is little sympathy for anyone who finds themselves being charged and appearing before a court."