A confidential hotline has been set up in Cambridgeshire to report people who are drink or drug driving.

The hotline is part of a campaign launched in the run up to Christmas where police are urging motorists to think about where they would rather sleep - their own bed, a hospital bed or a cell.

Motorists will be stopped and given breath tests by road policing officers who will be out in force from mid-November to the New Year.

Road Policing Unit Inspector, Phil Bloor, said: “Over the past 50 years the number of road casualties caused by drink driving has fallen dramatically, however we are still seeing far too many. By drinking and driving you risk your life, those of your passengers and others on the road.

“The legal drink drive limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which equates to roughly* four units of alcohol for men and three for women before you are legally unfit to drive.

“Some people may think they can ‘handle’ more than this and still be fine to drive, however, the truth is that any amount of alcohol will affect your driving for the worse. It creates a feeling of overconfidence, makes judging distance and speed more difficult and slows your reactions so it takes longer to stop.

“By having ‘just one more’ could be the difference between where you end up that night; a police cell, maybe a hospital bed, or worst case, a body bag – don’t take the risk of not ending up in the comfort of your own bed.

“We advise if you’re drinking, even just one, don’t drive and arrange an alternative way of getting home.”

The number of drink drivers stopped in Cambridgeshire in 2014 was 849 compared to 1,133 in 2010,

Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit will be out in force targeting those under the influence of alcohol behind the wheel.

The designated, confidential hotline number for members of the public to report drink and drug drivers is 0800 032 0845 and is available 24/7.