MORNING after breath-tests are being carried out by police as part of their Christmas drink-driving initiative in South Cheshire.

They are warning they are targeting roads with high casualty rates and routes from popular pubs and bars.

But the morning after checks will be on routes to town centres and other places where people work.

Twelve months ago, Cheshire was among the top five counties for breath tests in December, with more than 4,400 drivers tested and 225 arrested.

This year, the Christmas operation against drink and drug driving, which got under way at the weekend, is linked to the ARC-Angel campaign against 'Alcohol Related Crime'.

Sergeant IanHolley,whoinvestigates fatal and serious road crashes in Cheshire Police Eastern Area, said: 'Across the country more than 600 people are being killed and 2,350 seriously injured every year in collisions which involve a driver over the legal limit for alcohol. We are determined to get those figures down.

'At a time like Christmas, the possibility of a driver drinking is even higher than usual. For those who ignore the obvious dangers our campaign is intended to drive home the message that you will not get away with it.

'Everyone who is involved in a collision on the roads at any time of day can expect to be breathalysed and police patrols are stopping and breath-testing any driver they suspect may have been drinking. We are also carrying out stop checks on many roads.

'Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Units know the pubs and clubs and the routes people are likely to take when they leave them.

'We are also stop-checking vehicles as drivers are on their way to work in the morning. Many people under-estimate the length of time alcohol takes to get out of the body and last yearwefound severalpeoplewhowere still over the drink-drive limit and unfit to be driving.

'The problem of people driving after taking drugs is a growing one. The penalties for driving while unfit through drugs are the same as those for drink-driving. They can include prison sentences, driving bans and heavy fines.

'If officers suspect that a driver who is stop-checked or who has been driving erratically has taken drugs they will carry out Field Impairment Tests at the roadside.'