CHRISTMAS is coming . . . and with it comes the season of celebrations, of office parties, and excuses for people to let their hair down.It is also the season for an increase in the number of drink-drivers on the road as people decide to take the risk to get home after an evening of celebrations.

CHRISTMAS is coming . . . and with it comes the season of celebrations, of office parties, and excuses for people to let their hair down.

It is also the season for an increase in the number of drink-drivers on the road as people decide to take the risk to get home after an evening of celebrations.

The police have a message for such drivers: they're waiting for you! And here at The Evening Star so are we as our annual name and shame campaign is launched for the Christmas and New Year period.

No driver can use the excuse that he or she is unaware of the dangers of drink-driving or the penalties they face for this anti-social offence.

This year the police have also gone out to the region's new residents to make clear in their own languages what the rules are in this country and how tightly they are enforced.

There remains a hard-core of drivers who think they are immune to the drink-driving laws in this country - who think they will never be caught.

They may have driven home from the pub once or twice and got away with - but eventually they will face justice.

The time will come when they weave over the centre line in front of a police car . . . or even worse weave into the path of another vehicle.

That is why the Star's campaign is so important at this year - people who drive over the limit are anti-social members of society who put others lives at risk and deserve to be shamed by society.

IPSWICH Town's away form has been one of the most frustrating features of 2007.

Fortnight in, fortnight out Town fans have been going to Portman Road to see some fantastic performances by the team - the defeats of Wolves, Bristol City, and Sheffield Wednesday were real tonics for the fans.

But on the road the club cannot buy a victory - and once again came a cropper on Saturday, this time at lowly Cardiff City.

The team still sits very comfortably in the league - only two points off the play-off positions and six points off an automatic promotion place.

Taking its sparkling home form on the road would transform the season from being very good to truly outstanding.

That has to be the priority for Jim Magilton as the congested Christmas period approaches.

PRIME minister Gordon Brown is today back behind his desk at Number 10 Downing Street - and really needs to get to grips with the problems that have hit the country over the last two weeks.

The Northern Rock crisis looks as if it could be coming to an end thanks to the intervention of Sir Richard Branson.

But there are still huge issues with the disaster at the tax offices, the criticisms from former service chiefs, and the scandal over the former civil servants who became multi-millionaires when the defence research department Qinetiq was privatised.

Mr Brown has seen his poll ratings plummet over the last few weeks - if he is to regain the trust of the British people he needs to start showing some real leadership and get to grips with the difficult problems facing the country.