POLICE have launched a seasonal campaign in the Sleaford area in a bid to catch drivers behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Sleaford police officers will be out in force to find motorists not fit for the road in Operation Blackwater, a national campaign aimed at hitting festive drink and drug drivers.

Preventative measures will include activating Bluetooth pods, which will be used to send out a hard-hitting message asking drivers about their alcohol intake and depicting a body lying in a hospital bed.

Running until January 1, the campaign aims to reduce the number of people who die or are seriously injured on Lincolnshire roads by detecting the maximum number of offences and acting as a visible deterrent to offenders.

Officers will be carrying out stop checks across the county, testing a large proportion of the driving public.

Last year police carried out 3,235 tests across the county and 122 proved positive.

Launching the campaign for Lincolnshire Police's west division, Chief Inspector Mark Housley, responsible for community safety, said: "The community of west division should be aware that their local police have begun the seasonal crackdown on drink- driving and driving while under the influence of drugs.

"It continually disappoints me that year in, year out, people still drink and drive, risking the lives of their friends, family, neighbours and strangers.

"This years we will adopt a zero- tolerance approach and will be proactively seeking out those selfish and foolish members of our community who still think it is ok to behave in this manner."

Officers will also clamp down on those who are speeding, using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts, while neighbourhood policing teams will be carrying out educational and preventative activity. And members of the public are being encouraged to report anyone they suspect of drink or drug-driving.

Ch Insp Housely added: "I would ask that the mass law-abiding, sensible and considerate members of our community join together with the police in this pro-active approach and contact us with any information on driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Let's make this Christmas the best ever."