There are just three days until the wildest night of the year and police are already warning the public to stay out of trouble.

Mad Friday, the last Friday before Christmas , is traditionally the night of end-of-year office parties and celebrations.

It's also when Brits get especially rowdy as free drinks and good cheer flow freely across the UK.

South Yorkshire Police have issued a strongly-worded statement urging partygoers to take it easy and stay responsible this year after a nightmare evening for law enforcement in 2018.

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Last year, staff in the control room in South Yorkshire took 1,493 calls to the non-emergency 101 number, and 810 calls to 999 – all before midnight on Mad Friday.

Officers patrolling the streets of South Yorkshire attended more than 400 incidents.

Superintendent Paul McCurry expects this year to be just as busy.

"Mad Friday sees people leave their offices, finish their working day and head to the pubs and clubs to start the first of their Christmas celebrations," he said.

"We want people to have an enjoyable evening and have memories for all the right reasons.

"We are urging you to take responsibility for your actions, if you are enjoying a drink or two, take responsibility for the amount of alcohol you consume – we don't want to see you ruin your night by ending up in hospital or even worse, one of our cells.

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"You could end up in court for Christmas and this could have serious consequences for the future."

He's warning South Yorkshire revellers they'll be seeing increased numbers of officers on patrol from midday on Friday to keep an eye out for those enjoying boozy Christmas lunches.

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"They are a friendly bunch, please stop and say hello and ensure they only meet you for all the right reasons," he said.

"We wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas.

"With people consuming alcohol, we see an increase in public order offences and arrests. Violence will not be tolerated and those who commit violent offence will be held responsible, don't let it be you."

South Yorkshire Police top tips for staying safe this Mad Friday:

• Pace yourself and alternate alcoholic drinks with soft ones
• Stay with friends and look out for each other, especially if you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, visit a takeaway in the early hours or hail a taxi
• Trust your instincts and step away from a situation if you feel threatened
• Don't get so drunk that you are vulnerable and become a target for criminals
• Before going out, plan how you are getting home
• If one of your group needs to drive, designate a driver before you start drinking and make sure they stick to soft beverages
• Leave sufficient time for alcohol to exit your system before driving, particularly the morning after a night out

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