MORE drink drivers are being caught this Christmas than last, according to Suffolk police today.Since the force launched its festive anti-drink drive crackdown on December 1 nearly 6.

>

MORE drink drivers are being caught this Christmas than last, according to Suffolk police today.

Since the force launched its festive anti-drink drive crackdown on December 1 nearly 6.5 per cent of the motorists stopped in the county have proved over the limit or refused a breath test.

Anna Woolnough, spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “We have stopped 884 drivers throughout Suffolk, 57 of whom provided a positive breath test. Nine failed, or refused, to give a breath test. That's 6.45 per cent, which compares to 5.2 per cent last year.”

The results are based on the first 12 days of December this year compared to the period spanning December 18, 2004 to January 2, 2005.

Even though the police's high-profile crackdown began earlier this year, the increase has been seen as a blow in the battle against drinkers who get behind the wheel when drunk.

Inspector Trevor Sharman, of Suffolk police traffic unit said that despite the percentage to date being higher than in 2004, it was still down on the 8.5 pc caught in 2003.

He said: “It's still disappointing that we have people out there, who after all the years we have pumped this message across, don't seem to take any notice.

“At the end of the day it's all about road safety and if people can stop someone endangering themselves and other people we would really ask them to tell us, so we can prevent it.”

As part of its own Christmas campaign against drink driving The Evening Star pledges to name and shame all those who are convicted of the offence by Ipswich magistrates after being caught drunk behind the wheel between December 1 and January 1.