POLICE are warning people who skip court dates that they may spend Christmas behind bars if they don't give themselves up.

Around 200 people in Cheshire are wanted by the courts and magistrates have been forced to issue warrants for their arrest.

'This means that at any time of the night or day, a knock on the door may be the police. If you have a family they will see you being arrested,' said warrants and enquiry officer Val Jones. 'Some people believe they can dodge penalties which magistrates might impose by not going to court. In fact, failing to appear is often a more serious offence than the original charge.'

She said that once a person has been arrested, all the relevant paperwork has to be completed before they are taken to court. Magistrates may decide on a short prison sentence - and that could mean spending Christmas in the clink.

Even if magistrates decide against jail, offenders could still face Christmas in a cell if they are arrested just before the festive season, because magistrates are closed over Christmas.

She added: 'The simple answer is for anyone who has tried to dodge a court appearance by not attending to simply turn themselves in at their local police station. This will help speed up the process and they could be in court the same day. The whole thing will be cleared up quickly and even if there is a prison sentence it could be over before Christmas. You can stop worrying that the next caller will be a police officer.'

Postcards are being sent to everyone who is wanted by the courts, telling them how to turn themselves in.