NEARLY 200 bottles of stolen spirits and wine were recovered when police stopped a car laden with pilfered booze on the M5.

The haul which was found after reports of a theft from a shop in Ross-on-Wye included gin, whisky, vodka, rum and champagne.

Cops from the Worcestershire Operational Patrol Unit seized the stolen booze and arrested the driver last Wednesday (December 29), and cheekily posted a photo of the bottles, saying: "Somebody’s New Year’s Eve has just been ruined!"

They added: "How much stolen alcohol can you fit into the back of a VW Passat⦠this much!! Vehicle stopped M5 J4 after an attempt theft in Ross-on-Wyeâ¦

"Driver arrested and enquiries ongoing."

The picture shows the haul, which is thought to have been stolen from a town supermarket, with the security tags still on the bottles.

One poster replied: "Wow, I bet whoever had been expecting all that needs a stiff drink about nowâ¦."

Another added: "You booze you lose! Least the cops will have a good night!"