The shining light of a taxi is usually a blessed relief for tired partygoers heading home after a night out.

But for many law-breaking revellers the only lights they see are flashing blue before a night spent behind bars.

Police in Worthing have illustrated the stark choice by mocking up a force car to look like a taxi.

The Choose Your Ride campaign car has been parked in the town to get people talking about how they would prefer to go home that evening.

Since last Monday, officers have been checking that off-licences, bars, pubs and clubs are not selling alcohol to under 18s.

They have been using swabs to check for drugs in premises and visiting all licensed premises across the Worthing district.

Neighbourhood policing teams, street pastors, special constables, police cadets, Safer Communities Partnership and road policing teams are all being deployed in the campaign.

Sergeant Jo Webb said: “The Choose Your Ride car has been funded by the Adur and Worthing Safer Communities Partnership.

“It has been parked across the Adur and Worthing area to make people think about how they will get home after a night out. Obviously the ideal option is to travel home by taxi after a fun but safe night – enforcing the ‘don’t drink and drive’ message.

“However unfortunately, many people often end up having a ride in a police car to spend the night in custody after getting into trouble.

“We just want to make people stop and think about their actions after they’ve been drinking alcohol.”

In 2012 Sussex Police launched a text number (65999) which allowed |people to report anyone who they thought might be drink or drug driving in Sussex.

Reports can be sent through, which should contain the vehicle’s make, model, colour and number plate with any information as where the car is and the time the driver is expected to be on the road.