BASINGSTOKE Town footballers took a break from training for one of the biggest games in the club's history to back this year's campaign against drinking and driving during the festive season.

Players and coaches teamed up with Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire County Council ahead of the FA Cup clash with Aldershot, to ram home the message about the real dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Squad member Joe Harris, 19, said: "Christmas is meant to be a happy occasion and you don't want to see someone end up in a coffin because of something silly like drink driving."

The club's commercial manager Steve Duly said: "I think it's important that organisations like Basingstoke Town Football Club show their support for this scheme.

"We are a role model within the community and if local people see someone they relate to backing the scheme, it might prevent them from getting behind the wheel when they have had a few drinks."

Between December 1 and 31 last year, a total of 374 people were arrested across Hampshire for drink-drive offences, 32 of whom had been involved in accidents.

And since January 1 this year, there have been 121 arrests by Hampshire Constabulary's impaired driver unit of drivers suspected of being under the influence of drink and drugs.

Peter Hughes, Hampshire Constabulary's roads policing inspector, said: "If you get behind the wheel after you've had drink or drugs, you're dicing with death.

"You could end up killing yourself, or another road user.

"The risks are just too high, but the solution is simple. If you are going out, put proper travel arrangements in place, don't drive, and make sure you have a safe way of getting home."