A FATHER has spoken about the devastating effects of drink driving after his son died in a crash.

Gary McIntosh, aged 54, lost his 22-year-old son in a car crash caused by a drink-driver on October 5 last year.

Andrew McIntosh, who lived in Leigh, suffered fatal injuries when driver Ashley Brown lost control of her Ford Ka and crashed into a concrete bollard in Westleigh Lane, Leigh.

Mr McIntosh was a passenger in the car and had been on a night out in Leigh town centre before the crash happened.

It is understood he had only met Brown for the first time hours previously.

Brown, also aged 22, of Douglas Road, Leigh, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to three years in jail and banned from driving for 27 months.

Following her sentence, Andrew’s father wants to raise awareness of the risks of drink driving so his son had not died in vain.

Mr McIntosh said: “Andrew was one of 10 siblings and the effect it has had on them and us as a family, you can’t begin to imagine.

“The death of someone in this way has a knock-on effect for lots of people.

“He would speak and get on with any one; he was full of character, a truly bubbly person. He is missed every day.”

Although Mr McIntosh said the family thinks the sentence was "a touch on the lenient side" he said it was a “tragic accident”.

He added: “I spoke to Ashley’s family. They were genuinely remorseful and devastated.

"It is tragic for both families. I can see both sides, Andrew must have known that she was under the influence and he chose to get in that car.

Mr McIntosh, of Whitefield, celebrated what would have been his son’s 23rd birthday on November 16 with his family.

He added: “I just want others to stop and think of the effects that drink driving has before they do it or get into a car with someone under the influence.

"If after speaking out I can stop one person from drinking driving, Andrew’s death will not have been in vain."