ROWDY revellers are being warned not to drink too much over the festive period or they could spend Christmas in jail.

Colchester police will this weekend launch an operation to cut down on alcohol-related trouble in the town centre.

Insp Paul Butcher said that last year eight people were kept in the cells on Christmas Day for a range of offences from being drunk and disorderly to assault and possession of cocaine.

He added: “The last two weekends have been extremely busy.”

“There have been a lot of Christmas parties and many people have drunk too much.

“For many people it is their one big night out of the year and we do not want it to end badly.“ He said officers expect to deal with as many as 35 incidents on Saturday night. Last year officers dealt with 25 calls the Saturday before Christmas – making it the second busiest night of the year.