A WOMAN watched in horror as a drink-driver smashed into her car and then went into a pub nearby for another drink.

But Nicola McCormack was even more livid when police failed to respond to the incident, despite launching a campaign urging the public to shop drink-drivers.

Ms McCormack, 30, from Canvey, was at a children’s party for about 40 youngsters at Cheeky Monkeys play centre, in Eastern Esplanade, when the driver crashed into both sides of her car. The man, thought to be in his fifties, then stunned onlookers by staggering from his vehicle into the Monico pub next door, where he is alleged to have continued drinking.

Ms McCormack contacted the police after confronting the man in the pub, who confessed to smashing into her car and admitted he was drunk.

But she was left gobsmacked when officers told her they could not attend, because no one had been hurt – leaving the man free to get back in his car and drive off.

She said: “The police say they are trying to crackdownondrink-driving, but then they just let one get away.

“It is absolutely disgusting. They should’ve come out. He was so dangerous in that condition being behind the wheel.

“He could barely speak he was so drunk and just stank of alcohol.

“He tried to park on one side of me and crashed into my car, tried to park on the other side and crashed into my car again, and then crashed into some wheelie bins.

“It was just lucky that car parkwasn’t filled with all the kids from the party at the time.

“He went into the pub and had some more drinks and then drove off. If he had killed someone, it would have been entirely the police’s fault for failing to respond.

“He was putting the public at serious risk.”

The incident comes just a few weeks after Essex Police held their summer drink-driving campaign to crackdown on reckless motorists who get behind the wheel after boozing.

The annual campaign encourages people to dial 999 if they know of someone driving while under the influence.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston said: Nick Alston, PCC for Essex, said: “It is very important that everyone reports crime to Essex Police. Drink driving, if proven by a proper investigation, is a crime.

“Essex Police prioritises the response to incidents, and there will be occasions when hard choices have to be made. On occasion, this may mean that officers cannot be deployed immediately to a particular incident.

“However, if a person witnesses suspicious or criminal behaviour I would strongly encourage them to report this to Essex Police, in as much detail as possible. Even if an incident cannot be immediately attended, the information provided will enable a police investigation to take place.

"My understanding is that Essex Police is actively following up on the information provided to them about this particular incident. It is important that the force does so, and I would also expect officers to ensure that anybody reporting suspicious behaviour of this kind is kept informed of the progress of the subsequent investigation.

"I entirely understand the concern and frustration of the person who reported this serious incident, and I will be asking the Chief Constable for more details about this matter."