A HOSPITAL worker has urged people not to risk drink-driving after noticing 'dodgy' road users over the Christmas period.

An employee at the John Radcliffe Hospital's intensive care unit in Oxford made the plea on a residents' Facebook page yesterday, after finishing his Christmas Day shift.

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Posting on the Bicester General Chat public Facebook page, James Winchester wrote: "I work in intensive care at the JR - driving back home just now after a shift, there are a lot of very dodgy drivers out.

"If you have had a drink today, please don’t drive.

"If your relative has, please don’t let them drive, make them stay.

"The roads around here generate enough life-changing accidents as it is.

"That way you won’t ruin your Boxing Day spending it with me and my colleagues!"

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Hundreds of people reacted to the post, with one commenter saying: "I only wish people would take heed.

"Thank you for your service, especially through this time of year."

One woman said: "I drove the M40 to Banbury at lunch time and [there were] some idiots then too! Can’t see why anyone would risk drinking and driving."

Another added: "Thank you so much for all of the hard work that you and your colleagues do up at that hospital...the public would be lost without you all."

Thames Valley Police is currently running Operation Holly, to protect the public from drug and alcohol-related crashes.

The force launched the operation at the start of December, and it will continue until January 1.

Motorists can expect to see police carrying out breath tests, drug tests and impairment tests at the roadside, to deter anyone from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.