Councillors defended...

Councillors defended the move by pointing to the number of Christ-mas party and dinner bookings that have already been made at hotels and restaurants at this time of year. They have called for such venues to include a campaign leaflet with their booking forms.

It features a sobering picture of a blood-splattered road with the words "How are your guests getting home?" Councillor David Robertson, Oxfordshire"s roads chief, explained: "It may seem a strange time to be talking about Christmas.

"However, we need to start getting the message across now. This is the first time people"s minds will have paid any thought to Christmas, and we need to be straight in there with this very important message about road safety and alcohol."