Mother joins drink drive campaign

Kelly Woodward was in a car driven by a man who was over the limit

The mother of a Teesside teenager killed by a drunk driver, has urged motorists not to get behind the wheel if they have a drink over Christmas.

Kelly Woodward, 19, died when the car in which she was a passenger crashed in Billingham in July 2005.

Driver Andrew Burrell, 20, was jailed for four years after admitting being twice over the drink drive limit.

Jan Woodward joined emergency services in launching a joint seasonal drink drive campaign.

Police, fire and ambulance service bosses said they wanted to avoid "horrific crashes" during the festive period in the past.

'Lovely daughter'

Insp Eric Robinson of Cleveland Police said: "The emergency services see the aftermath of drink and drug driving all too often at the scenes of horrific crashes and we are united in urging drivers not to take the risk this Christmas."

Steve Walton from Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "We try to highlight the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Even so, some people will just not listen."

Mrs Woodward said: "If it weren't for a drunk driver, my lovely daughter would still be alive today.

"She was too young to die. I would plead with people not to drink and drive so they don't put people through what I've been through."

The campaign will run throughout December and into the New Year and will include random stop checking of vehicles and breath testing of any driver committing a traffic offence or involved in a collision.