TOWN centre shoppers were given refreshing, alcohol-free drinks this week as part of a campaign to crack down on drink/driving.

An open-topped bus was parked in Church Square, St Helens on Tuesday (July 22) to launch the campaign which aims to put over the message that drink/driving is not just a problem at Christmas. Over the last 12 months, 15,000 breath tests were taken in Merseyside which resulted in 2,635 prosecutions.

Lisa Scott, the senior road safety officer with St Helens Council said: "The peak months for drinking and driving last year were July and August so we are urging drivers to think ahead for this summer. They should plan in advance how they will get home after they have been drinking. Buses, trains and taxis are much safer than driving."

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