THE often tragic consequences of drink driving were put across to World Cup fans in a hard-hitting crash scene in St Helens town centre.

The Council and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service teamed up carrying out dramatic traffic collision rescue demonstrations while the Road Safety team urged football fans to avoid drink driving.

They reiterated the Department for Transport’s THINK campaign – which encourages fans to plan their drinking to ensure they get home safely.

Latest figures show 336 people were injured and eight killed in road traffic collisions attended by Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service in 2013. Of those injured, 27 were under 18.

So far in 2014, 213 people have been injured and two killed in road collisions attended by the Service. Eleven of the injured were aged under 18.

The THINK campaign urges people not to ruin their World Cup enjoyment by getting convicted for drink driving. They advise planning ahead, booking a taxi home in advance if you are planning a night out and check out late night bus times.

A sobering thought is that during the 2010 World Cup 7,402 people were caught drink driving and faced a fine, a 12 month driving van and even prison.