MORE than 70 people were arrested by Avon and Somerset police in the first 20 days of the annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug driving.

Officers arrested 71 people on suspicion of drink-driving related offences as part of Operation Tonic, which was launched to cover the Christmas and New Year period.

Most of the arrests were in Bristol, with five recorded in South Gloucestershire and another five in Bath and North East Somerset.

Many were made as a result of information received directly from the public, as well as during stop checks carried out in the evening and early morning to catch those driving home after drinking and people still over the limit the following morning.

One arrest came as the result of a police pursuit near Weston-super-Mare after a motorist who was driving erratically failed to stop.

Chief Inspector Yan Georgiou said he was grateful for all the information supplied by the public.

He said: "The role of local people is extremely important in helping us to crack down on anyone getting behind the wheel of a car when they have been drinking or taking drugs and posing a serious threat to other road users."

Officers said anyone with concerns about someone they believed was driving under the influence or drink or drugs should dial 999 or text the word Drunk and as many details as possible to 81819.