TRAFFIC cops are targeting drinkers picking their cars up from pubs the morning after a night out.

The warning comes as police step up their anti-drink and drug driving campaign for the festive period.

The move was welcomed by road safety charities, who said the tactic would act as a deterrent to those considering getting into a car after drinking.

But pub landlords said they felt the scheme victimised people who thought they were doing the right thing by picking their vehicle up the next morning.

Sgt Claire Pearson, from road policing, said patrols were always ‘specifically targeted’.

She said: “We set patrols up outside of pubs at all times of day, including the morning.

“We have a whole range of locations, for example, town centre car parks.

“The next morning, they might think they are all right, but if they did not stop drinking until 4am, they are certainly not all right.

“We also target mums on the school run, who might have had a bottle of wine on the night time and not even think about it the next morning.”

Matt Worden, who runs The Sun and The Crown pubs, in Darwen, said he thought bars were an easy target.

He said: “It is like people are trying to do the right thing, but they are still getting penalised for it.

“We have had some punters say this has happened to them. Drinkers will feel like they are being victimised.”