Road safety charity Brake has highlighted the significant number of Britons that take to the roads early in the morning the day after an evening of heavy drinking.

For one in five drivers, this is something they have done in the last year, with research from the body showing that for one in 20 this is a risk they are taking almost every week.

Overall, one in eight motorists who fail roadside breathalyser tests do so the morning after a night out, while more drivers have been caught over the limit after a crash between 6 am and midday on a Monday than on any other weekday for the last three years.

Brake campaigns officer Alice Bailey commented: "At worst, you could lose your life or take someone else's. Even if that's not the case, you could still lose your licence and potentially your livelihood.

"The advice is simple: use public transport, or walk to work if you've been out on Sunday night; or if you drive for work think about sharing a celebration much earlier in the day."

Everyone is different when it comes to the amount of time that it takes for our bodies to metabolise alcohol and be free from its effects. It is therefore essential that anyone planning to drive the next day take it easy the night before and give their body sufficient time to recover.

Indeed, Ms Bailey concluded: "Sleep, food and caffeine will not sober you up, the only thing that will is time."