A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taking a vehicle after a 22.5-tonne truck was stolen.

Police rushed to Dock Gate Four, Southampton, after security staff at the dockyard stopped the new Caterpillar Articulated Haul Truck in the early hours of this morning.

Officers had received reports that an articulated truck had been taken without consent and, when arriving at the scene, found the person driving the vehicle with "excess alcohol".

They have labelled the incident as a "potential first" for their Christmas drink drive campaign Operation Holly.

A 28-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called just after 4.30am today to reports of an articulated truck having been taken without consent at Southampton dockyard. Security staff stopped the vehicle leaving dock gate four.

"Officers arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of drink-driving and taking a motor vehicle without consent. He remains in custody at this time."

Operation Holly is a month-long campaign aimed at targeting drink and drug drivers across Hampshire and Thames Valley.

Between 1 December and 1 January, officers say they will be carrying out breath tests, drug tests and field impairment test “at every opportunity”.