A POLICE officer was dragged down the road after a drink driver drove off when he failed a roadside breath test.

The officer was carried along for several metres holding onto the doorframe of the car before the vehicle was stopped.

The officer, who is based at Spennymoor, escaped uninjured.

The incident happened on Sunday on the A690 at Meadowfield on the outskirts of Durham.

During the first drink and drug drive check of the current campaign, B Relief of Durham Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit stopped 70 drivers and asked if they were willing to take a voluntary roadside breath test.

During the operation, there was only one failure, a man from New Brancepeth who was driving a black Vauxhall Mokka.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “The officer had just completed the test and informed the driver of the fail result when he began to drive away as she reached in to get his keys.

“She was carried along for several metres resting on the doorframe before the vehicle stopped, thankfully the officer wasn't injured”.

The spokesman added: “A man has now been charged with driving with excess alcohol and also dangerous driving and he will appear in court in due course”.