IS BRITAIN A COUNTRY OF BINGE-DRINKING MEN AND WOMEN? Britain at its worst on busiest night before Christmas.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: This party animal in London decides to take a quick nap before heading to the next club (Picture: Tolga Akmen/LNP)

Mad Friday – the last Friday before Christmas Eve – is one of the busiest nights in the year for pubs, clubs and the emergency services.

For many people, their last evening before the Christmas holidays should be one to remember but all too often the festive spirit turns sour as binge-drinking brings chaos.

Accidents, fights and nights to forget have become a regular occurrence on Mad Friday as police and ambulance crews have to respond to increased anti-social behaviour and crime.

A night out in Manchester became one to forget for these revellers as police attend the scene of a fight (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

Slippery when wet: A woman falls over on the wet pavement in the rain in Manchester on Mad Friday (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

Two women in London show their disappointment at realising these bags aren’t filled with presents from Santa (Picture: Tolga Akmen/LNP)

‘Unfortunately, experience shows that on Mad Friday some people will finish work early, head off to the pub, drink too much alcohol, too quickly,’ said superintendent Peter Norman of South Yorkshire police.

‘Combined with the excitement of the festive period they end up behaving completely out of character. Some will be ill, some will be injured and some will be arrested.’

Two clubbers in Manchester decide to break from partying to have a quick Christmas embrace. Hang on, where’s the mistletoe? (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

Merry Christmas: Emergency services help a prostrate man in Soho, London (Picture: Tolga Akmen/LNP)

Police forces in Manchester sent out double the usual amount of officers yesterday as 200,000 revellers were expected in the city centre.

Greater Manchester Police used the hashtag #MadMancFriday to expose some of the embarrassing things people do on the biggest night out before Christmas in the hope that it would prevent others doing the same.

While Christmas should be a cause of celebration, many end up doing things they regret the next day.

Missed the last train? No bother, just ride your office chair all the way home (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

No taxis? This woman tries lying down on a barrier in the hope it turns into a magic carpet (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

Manchester’s trademark drizzle wasn’t enough to put these partygoers off hanging around outside (Picture: Joel Goodman/LNP)

After all the excitement of Mad Friday this man falls asleep at a London bus stop (Picture: Tolga Akmen/LNP)

Christmas