DRINKING or taking drugs during the European Championship and then getting in the car and driving home?

You may want to think twice.

Police have launched a new blitz on drink and drug-driving to coincide with a summer of football – and it will last until the final match on July 10.

Essex Police will work alongside the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) to target drivers who get behind the wheel under the influence.

Road policing officers will be patrolling town centres as well as rural areas, where some drivers believe they have less chance of getting caught.

As well as traditional breath tests, officers will be using new drug testing kits to detect drivers with cannabis and cocaine in their system.

Throughout the campaign, partnership representatives will be speaking to football supporters who travel to pubs and bars in town centres to watch Euro 2016 matches.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager at Essex Police, said: “My team is passionate about road safety and work tirelessly 24 hours a day 365 days a year to bring to justice irresponsible drivers who put others at risk by getting behind the wheel under the influence.

"However we need your help. We’re asking residents to tell us about people who put the lives of innocent road users at risk by driving drunk or high on drugs.”

Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, added: “Bad driving is one of the biggest killers we face in Essex.

“I urge everyone to take responsibility when they get behind the wheel, and not to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.”

Call 999 if you know someone is drunk and you see them getting behind the wheel of the car.