WILTSHIRE police have warned that drivers who ignore their appeals not to drink and drive will be caught and prosecuted.

They are saying that the temptation to have a few drinks when going out to celebrate over Christmas and New Year must be resisted.

Sgt Dave Melvin, Wiltshire Constabulary's road safety officer, 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 and would not fail a breath test, police and the Department of Transport have a very uncompromising message.

Sgt Melvin said: "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 in each case.

"The only safe amount of alcohol you can have, if you are driving, is none."

About 3,500 people are killed or seriously injured nationwide each year in drink-related road accidents and about 44 per cent of these are innocent victims. Statistics show one in seven road deaths are alcohol-related.

"These are terrible statistics and should be taken on board by those who are prepared to ignore the advice," said Sgt Melvin.

For those who are still prepared to ignore the message, comes the warning that they face a real risk of being caught.

Sgt Melvin said that police officers will be stepping up their activities in support of the campaign, aiming to reduce drink-drive casualties and catching those who are breaking the law.

He added: "The widespread feeling that drink-driving is anti-social means that there is little sympathy for anyone who finds themselves being charged and appearing before a court.

"Apart from the social stigma, however, most first-time offenders will lose their driving licence for a minimum of 12 months, face higher insurance premiums, possibly lose their job and then realise it just wasn't worth it in the first place."

The situation is worse for all concerned when someone is injured or killed. Sgt Melvin asked: "Could you live with yourself if you killed someone or maimed them for life?"