A woman has been charged with a string of offences after being found walking on a motorway.

Casey Sullivan, of Drayson Close, Waltham Abbey, was stopped by police officers at 4am yesterday when she was found walking on the hard shoulder of the M25 near her home town, having left her car at the side of the carriageway.

She was breath-tested, then arrested, and later charged with assaulting three police officers, drink -driving, driving without insurance, possession of a Class B drug and walking on the motorway.

The unemployed 26-year-old will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on January 15.

Head of Essex Roads Policing, Chief Inspector Rachel Nolan, said: "Essex Police’s message is to plan in advance how you are going to get home after a night out.

“If you intend to drink alcohol, leave the car at home.

“Losing your licence means not only being unable to drive but could mean losing your job and then being unable to pay your bills, not to mention the risk of being involved in an accident.”

The drink driving awareness and enforcement campaign will run until the end of the month.