CLEVELAND Police are joining forces throughout Europe in an initiative to rid the roads of people who drink and drive.

A series of high-profile patrols will be involved in a 24-hour campaign, which begins tomorrow, at 6am.

Inspector Mick Bennett said: "The majority of drivers in Cleveland abide by the law, but there are still a small number of people who think they know better - and they are the ones we are targeting."

Nationally, most people who drink and drive are aged between 17 and 22.

In Cleveland it is the 20 to 40-year-olds, who provide 60 per cent of all positive breath tests.

Insp Bennett said: "In the past three years those statistics have never changed. We are determined to target those drivers - and the places where they drink.

"This sort of campaign highlights the problem, but also demonstrates the cooperation there is between police forces throughout Europe, working together for a common cause, to get drink drivers off the road.

"The problem of drinking and driving is not seasonal. It is with us all year around, and if drivers do not take heed of the warnings they must be prepared to take the consequences."

During the 24-hour period, Cleveland's road policing unit, plus officers from Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Langbaurgh will mount patrols throughout the force area