A MAN has been arrested and charged with drink-driving after a crash involving several vehicles on Saturday in St Johns.

A car allegedly left a trail of damage after swerving out of control and crashing into a car near the traffic lights close to the Co-op store at about 2.30pm.

Onlookers say the car then hit two more vehicles as it reversed, before being driven off at speed, despite the fact that by this time it had suffered serious damage.

Police said yesterday that Timothy Blueman, aged 49, of Penhill Close, Worcester, had been arrested following the incident and charged with drink-driving. He has been bailed to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, December 18.

The crash came only two days after West Mercia Police launched its campaign to stop people driving under the influence of drink and drugs.

And the previous day, another alleged drink driver was arrested after crashing his car into iron railings at Worcester Racecourse.

The uninsured learner driver, who was driving with ‘L’ plates, did not have a full driving licence and blew 99mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, close to three times the legal limit of 35mcg.

He crashed the car into the fence in Croft Road, Worcester at 3.15am on Friday. The 30-year-old driver has been charged with driving with excess alcohol, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without third party insurance, and is due to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court next month.

Both accidents happened as police were rolling out their seasonal campaign against drink- and drug-driving.

Officers were this weekend staffing a stand at the Victorian Christmas Fair in Worcester city centre, where hundreds of people signed a pledge never to drink or take drugs before driving.

Yesterday. police inspector Tony Garner said: "These incidents show the need for our campaign against drink-driving.

"Starting on Tuesday, and on each day throughout December, we will be stationing officers at various points around the force area, to stop people for testing,"

Officers will also breath-test all drivers involved in collisions irrespective of whether or not there is a suspicion of drink driving.