Free tops to stops drink spiking

The device was designed to make drink spiking more difficult

Specially-designed "Alcotops" to go over the neck of a bottle are being handed out to stop drink spiking in two Shropshire towns.

The brightly-coloured devices fit most alcopop and beer bottles and aim to make the spiking of bottles difficult.

Telford Neighbourhood Watch are distributing the tops at the Asda store in Donnington on Thursday, and also from Malinsgate Police Station.

A similar event is planned for 21 March outside Waitrose in Newport.

Miriam Small, administrator at Telford Neighbourhood Watch said: "We feel that an initiative to promote safer and sensible drinking will be beneficial to our communities, and have been very well supported by other agencies, particularly Telford Police".

Paul Homersley, licensing officer for the borough endorsed the launch, saying: "The licensed trade in Telford is 100% behind the alcotop initiative.

"The different brightly coloured tops will hopefully become a fashion accessory to club goers that really do have a very practical use."

Jenny Wynn of the Telford Crime Prevention Panel said: "(We) are happy to financially support this partnership venture to reduce drug-related crime, and protect young people."