POLICE are encouraging people to shop drink-drivers by text as part of their annual Christmas crackdown, which starts today.

Anonymous messages can be texted to 8099 and should contain the location of the driver and their registration plate.

Last year the force arrested 247 people after pulling over 4,000 drivers in the seasonal blitz on drink-driving and drug-driving.

This year’s campaign, dubbed Operation Holly, aims to drive home the message that drinking under the influence kills and wrecks lives.

Supt Chris Brown, head of roads policing for Hampshire and Thames Valley police, said that the public had a duty to report drink-drivers.

He said: “Our officers will be conducting operations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from the end of November until the beginning of January as this is the time of year that people tend to drink and party more.

“Collisions involving alcohol or drugs not only devastate the lives of victims and their families, they also ruin the lives of offenders, who could face a lengthy driving ban or imprisonment.

“As well as having to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured someone through their reckless behaviour, offenders could also lose their job, home and their livelihood.

“If you are going out and know you will be drinking, organise alternative transport or a designated driver to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the festive period safely.”

At the official launch today double Le Mans winning Aston Martin driver Darren Turner will talk about driving a car simulator while under the influence.

As part of an experiment to see how alcohol affected his driving ability, he drove laps of the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit on the simulator while over the drink-drive limit.