With England set to play their first match on Wednesday 17 June, Cheshire Police is reminding those off to the pub they need to plan how they are going to get home safely.

It might be tempting to save money on a taxi by driving, say police, but if you are having drinks late into the evening, you're putting yourself and others at real risk of harm. The same goes for those under the influence of drugs.

To make sure this FIFA World Cup is a memorable one and not one to forget, make sure you have made plans to get home safely.

Superintendent John Forshaw from the Roads and Crime Unit said: "The amount of people that think they are safe to drive after a couple of drinks because they don't 'feel' affected by the alcohol is astonishing.

"Even just one drink can impact your ability to deal with common place events on the roads, such as a change in driving conditions, or actions taken by other road users.

"Anything can change in a blink of an eye, and if you have had a drink, you won't be in the best possible position to react to that change – and that can ultimately be the difference between life and death.

"As police officers it's our job to have to deliver the awful news that a family member has sadly died as a result of a collision, and it is gut-wrenching.

"That's why we're asking you to think if you've had a drink or taken drugs before getting behind the wheel, whether it's that night, or the morning after.

advertisement

"We're not being party poopers, we just want everyone to enjoy the drama of a World Cup and live to tell the tale."