SHOPPERS were warned about the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs by police on Saturday.

Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Middlesbrough Recovery Centre and Middlesbrough Council were outside BHS in Middlesbrough to educate shoppers as part of a campaign by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) against driving while under the influence.

The Recovery Centre was showing festive shoppers the number of units in each drink and a non-alcoholic bar was serving up drinks.

The public are being urged to ring police or Crimestoppers if they had information on people that were drinking or driving.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean White said: “The ACPO festive drink and drug drive campaign is all about educating the public about the dangers of driving whilst under the influence.

“In order to spread the message as far and wide as possible, we have arranged with our partners a number of interactive tools whereby members of the public can actively learn and also speak to officers about the campaign and about why it is so important.

“Our message this year is that the only safe drink is a soft drink and the more people that abide by this, the more lives we can save.”