A HELPING hand is on offer to overseas motorists unfamiliar with UK rules of the road.

Durham County Council is distributing 5,000 booklets called THINK! Keep Left, written in English and four other European languages.

Compiled by the Department of Transport, it covers manoeuvres at junctions and roundabouts, motorway driving, and sign and speed-limit recognition. It also gives information on UK drink-drive limits and seat belt legislation, as well as urging them to take a rest if fatigue sets in.

Chris Tunstall, the council's director of environment and technical services, said the booklet had been distributed with the approach of spring and the increase in overseas visitors.

"We expect to see more and more visitors from the Continent touring the county, and many will take the opportunity to explore by car, using either their own vehicle or a hired car," he said.

"But driving abroad, with different rules of the road, can cause a range of problems, both for the driver and other road users.

"The booklet, in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, is very simple and easy to understand."

It will be distributed to the tourist information centres, major hotels, motels, car hire companies, large petrol filling stations and visitor attractions, museums and libraries.

Copies are also available from the road safety section, Environment and Technical Services, Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham.