PARTY-GOERS in Preston could pub-crawl for free this Christmas - but there is a catch or two.

For starters, you must be the driver among your group of pals and secondly, a drop of alcohol must not pass your lips.

The offer comes courtesy of a new police initiative to cut down on drink-driving. It involves the 12 pubs and clubs linked up to the town centre radio network all dishing out a free soft drink when any two drinks are bought.

The motorist shows pub staff his driving licence to get a sticker which entitles him to the freebie all night.

The label is the size of a pound coin and is bright green, but don't worry if it clashes with your clothes - you can wear it under a lapel and reveal it each time you go to the bar.

Organisers are hailing the scheme as a success as some 50 stickers have already been snapped up since the scheme was launched last week. It will run until the first weekend of January.

Andy Grieve, manager of Tokyo Jo's nightclub on Church Street, said: "Attitudes towards drink-driving are changing. If you go out knowing you're driving that night, you don't mind. This initiative rewards the driver."

Crime Prevention Officer PC Andy Edwards agreed and added: "Sometimes the high cost of soft drinks puts people off buying them, and there's a lot of group pressure, but this way not drinking alcohol is an advantage."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.