TRAFFIC police are often the butt of criticism because of their perceived over-zealous pursuit of motorists.

"They would be better employed catching 'real' criminals", is the often heard refrain from aggrieved drivers who have fallen foul of the law.

But our report today about the drink-drive Christmas crackdown highlights the success of the campaign and the professionalism of the traffic officers involved.

A police spokesman has explained that this year less than three per cent of drivers stopped in Bolton were over the limit, compared with more than five per cent last year.

The number of motorists stopped and checked locally this year was 1,253 compared with 538 the previous festive season.

We have heard nothing to suggest that the officers who did the checking were other than courteous and efficient.

We congratulate the police on a job well done. They carried out a worthwhile exercise which is helping to reduce irresponsible and dangerous behaviour on our roads.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.