TOWN centre shoppers in Redcar are to be brought face to face with the horrors of drink-driving tomorrow.

They are to be treated to the sight of a stage-managed car smash, with fire crews cutting through the mangled wreckage to reach play acting victims.

The stark message is being used by the emergency services and the local council to drum home the dangers of drinking.

Mike Hall, road safety officer with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "We adopted the policy, 'Nil for the road', warning that any small amount of alcohol can affect your driving sensibility.

"It can reduce your reaction, reduce your understanding of speed and give you a false sense of security.

"What we are trying to do is educate people that it's best to have 'Nil for the road'."

As well as the mock car crash, street theatre will be used to illustrate the havoc drink can cause. The activities take place near the town clock.

There will be free tasting of alcohol-free cocktails while on-lookers will be invited to experience the effects of drunkenness and blurred vision through special goggles - without drinking a single drop.

Sgt Shaun Quinn of the district licensing unit, said: "Our aim is to make Langbaurgh a safer place and combat the impact of practices such as binge drinking.

"Both high profile and covert operations will be stepped up during the coming months to crack down on drunken and anti-social behaviour. Such behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in firm action, which may result in a night in the cells and an appearance in court."

Ian Harrington of the Cleveland Fire and Rescue service, said: "This is a positive multi-agency initiative that will undoubtedly have an impact on the community.

"The brigade will be conducting a number of fire inspections in and around the district to ensure that premises used by the public are safe."

Adele Holmes of Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust said health workers will be focusing this summer on the wider public health issues in relation to alcohol for the community as a whole, starting from ten-year-olds and ranging all the way up the age groups.