CHRISTMAS partygoers who let their high spirits get the better of them could find themselves in the cells, North Yorkshire police warned today.

Extra patrols will be on city centre streets in the afternoons and evenings to crack down on boozed-up revellers causing trouble after spilling out of parties.

Last year, 50 people were arrested in York and Selby in the run-up to Christmas for incidents ranging from drunken domestic disputes to assaults and public disorder.

The cells at Fulford Road police station were packed to bursting point because of the huge number of arrests, and some prisoners had to be taken to other jails in the area.

Superintendent John Lacy, operations chief for the area covering York and Selby, said his officers were not killjoys.

"But we will not tolerate alcohol-related disorder and we will take a firm and high-profile approach to policing the city this year," he said.

"We take a dim view of people who misuse alcohol, and we will be taking harsh action against people caught urinating in the street."

Supt Lacy said those caught spending a penny in public could be hit with maximum fines of £500.

The extra foot patrols will be backed up by the 28 CCTV cameras located strategically around the city.

Supt Lacy said he was concerned that people who were not normally heavy drinkers binged on alcohol at Christmas time.

"I don't want anyone dying on our streets this year," he said.

Thirty-six people have been arrested in a pre-Christmas blitz on shoplifters in York.

Operation Christmas Cracker led to the recovery of more than £2,000 worth of stolen goods and the detection of 50 crimes. Twenty stop-searches were carried out by officers in the city centre.