A weekly newspaper reporter agreed to let her old car be trashed as part of a Christmas anti-drinking and driving campaign on her patch.

Craven Herald journalist Lesley Tate donated her old blue Volkswagen Polo to Skipton fire station earlier this year for the service to use as it wished.

The car was cut up by firefighters in a training exercise on Friday, and it will now be towed around the Skipton area to highlight the dangers of drink and drugs driving.

Station manager Tony Peel told the Herald people were still “ignoring best advice” and driving after drinking or taking drugs.

Lesley’s car, pictured right, will be toured around the Skipton area

He said: “It is drugs now, particularly with younger drivers, and they are taking cannabis and cocaine.

“They need to know, if they are getting behind the wheel of a car, it needs to be zero, they mustn’t have taken anything.

“No one thinks they might have an accident. In fact, if police catch you after you’ve been drinking, or taking drugs, that’s good, because you might just have avoided being in an accident.”

Newsquest Yorkshire group editor Nigel Burton told HTFP: “Lesley’s selfless act illustrates how she’s always willing to go the extra mile to get a good story.”