Two men were injured when a car was in collision with a skip in the early hours of Sunday, January 24.  Passers by helped them out of the vehicle on Jubits Lane, Sutton Manor at around 1.30am.  Firefighters arrived at the scene and isolated the car battery.  A 23-year-old suffered hand and chest injuries and a 30-year-old hurt his head. Both were taken to Whiston Hospital.  St. Helens Star

Merseyside Police say tip-offs from the public were used to target motorists over the alcohol limit during their Christmas drink-driving campaign.  Police stopped more cars and breath tested more motorists than ever before as part of the force's "Total Policing" offensive against drink-drivers over Christmas and New Year.  The campaign, which is supported by all five local authorities on Merseyside, ran from December 1 until January 1.  Chief Inspector Chris Markey said: "On Merseyside, we have adopted an intelligence-led approach to stopping drink-drivers using information provided by the public, targeting key locations and key times of the day.  "Merseyside Police worked closely with Tunnel and Port of Liverpool Police to get the message across if you break the law and drive over the limit on Merseyside you can expect to be caught.  “Through robust enforcement of roads policing and the work of our partners in education and engineering, the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads in Merseyside has reduced significantly over the last five years."  He added: "We are determined to do everything we can to continue this reduction.  "However, we cannot work in isolation and need the support of the public to be able to make a real impact.  "I urge all drivers to play their part - help us to make a difference and don't drink and drive.”  In the largest ever national campaign in the UK, 223,423 drivers were breath tested across the country during the four-week period.  In Mersyside, 5,012 were tested, with 3.5% (180 drivers) arrested for positive, refused or failed tests.  Nationally, 7,638, representing 3% of drivers tested, were arrested.  Data also shows that during December, 457 drivers were tested following road accidents, resulting in 5.9% (27 drivers) being arrested for a positive, refused or failed test.  The last five years of Christmas drink-drive crackdowns on Merseyside have resulted in a year-on-year reduction in the number of collisions in which drinking was a contributory factor.  Provisional data for the 2009 campaign suggests there was a fall in the number of crashes causing injury reported compared to the same time last year.  At this time, there is no breakdown of figures available for individual local authority areas, including Wirral.  Wirral Globe

A 62 year old man died after the car he was driving crashed into a wall this morning.  The incident occurred near the Rocket flyover on Queens Drive close to Childwall Sports College at 7.45am and led to the road being closed to traffic for several hours.  The man, who is from the Tuebrook area, was driving a Renault Clio when it mounted the central reservation and crashed. No other vehicle was involved.  A post mortem is due to be held.  Liverpool Echo

Motorists are being urged to avoid a stretch of the East Lancs after two manhole covers collapsed.  United Utilities have been working on site and the road is down to one lane at the Carr Mill junction on the Manchester bound carriageway.  Large queues are expected and drivers are being urged to avoid that stretch.  St. Helens Star

A Man and a woman were taken to hospital suffering from suspected spinal injuries after a crash involving a car and a lorry.  The smash happened on Sherdley Road, Sutton Heath, shortly before 1.20pm on Monday (January 25).  Emergency crews rescued the man, 61, and woman, 58, from the vehicle and both were taken to Whiston Hospital.  St. Helens Star

Knowsley South MP Eddie O’Hara has demanded stricter limits on large lorries in city centres.  He said that 45% of cyclists’ deaths involve heavy goods vehicles.  He backed Parliamentary calls for action to limit access and to require all lorries to be fitted with side-sensors, and better mirrors and horns.  Liverpool Echo

Merseyside Police this Christmas stopped more motorists than ever to be breath tested in their crackdown against drink drivers.  The region’s officers stopped 5,012 motorists over a four week period in the holidays as part of a nationwide scheme involving the testing of 223,423 people in a bid to battle festive tragedies.  Within Merseyside’s scheme some 180 drivers were arrested for failed and refused tests against a national figure of 7,638.  Overall 3% of drivers nationally failed and were subsequently arrested for being intoxicated while driving.  Figures released last week also show that during December, 457 drivers were tested following traffic collisions with 27 motorists failing.  The statistics show an encouraging trend on Merseyside of year on year reductions of collisions over the festive period where alcohol was a factor.  Chief Inspector Chris Markey warned about the dangers of drinking even a small amount if you’re driving.  He said: “The fact is even a small amount of alcohol will impair your judgement and general ability to drive safely.  “How much you can drink and still drive depends on many factors and it is not worth taking the risk.”  Formby Times

Motorists travelling along the M62 yesterday afternoon endured delays after a lorry shed its load of potatoes.  The incident happened Birchwood, Warrington when the lorry overturned between junction 11 and junction 12, Eccles.  The spillage caused congestion, with highways officials having to close part of the motorway.  St. Helens Star