AN MP has warned that a new business offering to drive home motorists who have been drinking could lead to more irresponsible binge boozing.

Entrepreneur John Orr will today unveil scooterCab, in Newcastle, which provides riders who turn up on collapsible scooters. They store the vehicle in the boot of the car and can then chauffeur-drive the customer home.

Similar scooter schemes already operate in London, Glasgow and the Channel Islands.

Mr Orr said that the service was aimed at cutting down the number of drink-driving accidents in the region, and was backed by emergency services.

But Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins fears the launch of the scheme in the "party city" could encourage drinkers to be less responsible in how much alcohol they consumed.