AS their Christmas safety campaign continues, this week Cheshire firefighters are giving people the gift of life by encouraging them to drive carefully over the festive period and beyond.

Keeping your indicators clean and working, making sure you have enough fuel and checking the condition of your tyres and brakes can potentially be life-saving.

Throughout the first half of December fire crews will be visiting local businesses and colleges and will be highlighting the importance of taking extra care in all weathers and the dangers of drink-driving.

Peter Shields, the service’s road safety officer, said: "We want to get the message across to residents that one death on our roads is one too many.

"We want people to seriously re-think their drinking behaviours, particularly over the festive period, and keep themselves, their families and others safe.

"It's so important to be prepared in case bad weather strikes. Engaging with drivers across Cheshire to advise them on safer driving in wintery conditions is an important part of our road safety campaigning.”

To enter the competition to receive a winter driving pack, simply visit the website www.cheshirefire.gov.uk and answer a simple question in the ‘Christmas – if you’re driving don’t drink!’ section.