POLICE officers conducted 17 roadside drink or drug drive tests and made an arrest on the first day of a clampdown aimed at keeping borough roads safe over Christmas.

Essex Police are taking part in a national crackdown on drink driving as part of a month-long road safety campaign called 'Drink Driving. Together We Can Stop It'.

A team with Chigwell Roads Policing Unit was on patrol across Thurrock on the evening of Friday, 1 December, conducting a number of checks and tests during a four-hour shift.

A 42-year-old man, from Grays, was stopped after officers spotted a faulty light on his vehicle, in Blackshots Lane, Grays.

He was arrested after returning a positive roadside result for cocaine and has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Adam Pipe, Head of Roads Policing at Essex Police, will lead seven forces in the month-long clampdown: Essex Police will be joined by forces in Kent, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

He said: "This year, we're working with other forces across the East region in a partnership approach to tackle the issue head-on.

"The collaboration means we'll be focussed on intelligence-led policing to shape our response by directing our patrols to identified 'hotspots' and targeting and catching offenders, ensuring the safety of all road users.

"Those drivers who think they can evade arrest by travelling outside of Essex, won't escape notice.

"We'll link in with any of our partner forces to ensure drink or drug drivers face the consequence of their actions."