SUSPECTED drink drivers spent New Year’s Day in custody after two crashes in Bournemouth.

Police were first called to reports of a crash outside the fire station in Redhill Avenue shortly before midnight on December 31. A motorist had hit railings while driving around the one-way system.

Officers and firefighters attended and spoke with a man who said he had been driving the car. He was arrested on suspicion of driving offences.

However, shortly after the arrest was made, a woman who had been in the car said she was the driver, which was confirmed by the man. She was then arrested and was found to be four times the drink-drive limit.

Officers took both the man and woman into custody and launched an investigation, searching through CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses.

During the afternoon on January 1, a man was charged with drink driving and a woman was released with no further action.

At around 5am on New Year’s Day, police were called to reports of dangerous driving in Kinson. As police searched the area, they received a further call about a crash in Turbary Park Avenue. The driver had failed to stop at the scene.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police’s No Excuses team said: “Upon arrival, we were greeted by a complete mess.

“Two properties were damaged. Bricks, gates and fences were destroyed.

“Witnesses at scene who came out after hearing the crash provided a number plate for the vehicle.”

Officers then visited an address in Ferndown and discovered a badly-damaged car parked outside. A man was arrested at around 6am and taken to the police station, where he was allegedly found to be around double the drink-drive limit.

The readings kept increasing, an officer said.

A man has now been charged with drink driving.

Dorset Police’s Christmas drink and drug driving campaign took place between December 1 and January 1.

During the operation, officers requested breath tests from all drivers involved in a collision.