Police have revealed a "disturbing" increase in the number of motorists suspected of drink-driving on the roads of Brentwood during Christmas.

Brentwood traffic police carried out 760 breath tests during this year's Christmas clampdown, with 22 motorists - roughly three per cent - proving positive for alcohol.

This marks a significant increase on last year's percentage and mirrors the county picture, which showed 209 positive tests out of a total of 6,749 - an increase of 0.8 per cent on last year's percentage of 2.3 per cent.

Insp Alan Jelley said: "We have had a higher number of positives this year, which is quite disturbing.

"The period during which people are going to drink was a bit longer this year, so that may be why there were more than before, but that's not an excuse.

"The local traffic police will not be complacent and will continue to carry out enforcement action with the aim of deterring drink drivers, thereby making the roads safe for the people of Brentwood."

His concern was shared by Essex Police's traffic supremo Chief Insp Tom Diment: "Essex is disappointed by the fact that some motorists are still behaving in an irresponsible and criminal manner.

"Despite high profile local and national media campaigns there is a minority of drivers prepared to put their own lives, and the lives of others, at unnecessary risk.

"Safety on the roads remains a top priority for Essex Police, however it cannot be tackled by the police alone. "

The number of positive tests has risen in spite of a huge reduction of 6,482 in the number of tests carried out this year compared with last year's 13, 231.

This has been put down to the significant police resources lost to the Stansted aircrash and the workload generated by the millennium.

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