THERE were 84 suspected drink/drug driving offences in December according to Wiltshire Police.

This was an increase on the previous year, which saw a total of 68 positive tests, or failures in providing a sample.

27 of those those were provided after a crash, and 21 who failed the breath test were aged under 25.

A further 20 were screened at the roadside for suspected drug use, of which 12 were positive or failed to provide a sample.

In total 1,031 people were stopped and had breath tests.

Wiltshire Road Safety Unit's Sergeant Gavin Brewster said that although the number was higher than 2015, the police has stopped more drivers, and the percentage had fallen from 9.34 per cent to 8.15 per cent.

He said: "Although this is an improvement, it shows that not everybody is listening to the drink/drug driving message and acting on it.

"It is quite simple; if you have been drinking you should not be driving."

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon said he was glad to see the fall in the percentage of failed tests, and praised officers for their judgement.

Angus Macpherson said: "I would like to commend officers for their vigilance during the festive period.

"But it is very concerning that so many young people were found to have been drinking and driving, when so much excellent work is done by police and partners in schools."

Drinking to excess and taking drugs when driving was "simply unacceptable" according to Assistant Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, and Wiltshire Police's efforts to catch the offenders "would not cease".

"The best advice we can give drivers is not to drink or take illegal drugs at all.

"The penalties are significant and if the worst happened and someone died as a result of drink/drug driving, the driver would be facing a prison sentence.

"It is just not worth the risk."

To report an incident of drink drug/driving call 101, or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.