A MAN who was left for dead after a vicious drink-fuelled assault has issued a simple message to party-goers this festive season - "please be careful how much you drink this Christmas."

Lee Reeves, aged 27, who suffered brain damage, a punctured lung and a broken cheekbone after being kicked in the head against iron railings until he lost consciousness in December 2000, is publicly backing a crackdown on drink-fuelled crime that was launched by West Mercia Constabulary yesterday.

Operation Christmas Presence aims to deliver safer communities, safer streets and safer pubs and clubs and the message to drink alcohol in moderation will be driven home in radio commercials and on 80,000 drink mats and posters distributed to pubs across the force area.

And Lee, who spent eight days on a life support machine after the attack in Shrewsbury which left him with a shoe impression clearly visible on his head, said: "If it makes just one person think it will have been worth it."

The campaign, which will be carried out across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford, Shropshire and Wrekin, will also see 150 more bobbies on the beat at key times in the weeks ahead - 40 of which will be across South Worcestershire.

Chief Insp Alan Baldwin, who is co-ordinating the South Worcestershire campaign, also made no secret of the fact that plain clothed police officers would be targeting pubs and clubs to gather evidence about under-age drinking and licensees who serve customers who show signs of drunkenness.

"This is very much a joined up approach between us and licensees to make Christmas safe and more enjoyable for everyone," he added.

"We are encouraging people to be responsible, to look after themselves and each other, and most importantly not to drink and drive."

Mike Stevens, chairman of the Licensed Vitulers Association, said the 150 licensees who were members of the LVA were supporting the campaign.

Owners and managers of many pubs and clubs have voluntarily withdrawn "all you can drink" and "happy hour" offers.

"The more we can do to support sensible drinking the better," he said.

"Alcohol abuse is a 52 week a year problem but there is no doubt that over the Christmas period it is heightened and we will be working with the police to try and combat it."