LANCASHIRE Police say they are "encouraged" by the results of their anti-drink driving campaign this summer.

However they admit that hard-core culprits still remain a worry.

A total of 6,086 breath tests were carried out on motorists during the six-week campaign between July and August - 545 of them positive.

Insp. Peter Stas, in charge of the seasonal clampdown, said the number of people prepared to drink and drive appeared to be on the decline.

"Although this represents nine per cent of the total, it is a dramatic improvement on last year's comparable figure of more than 16 per cent," he said.

Mr Stas explained that the number of tests carried out this summer was sharply up on last year's figure of 2,343 because of a change in policy.

He added: "When this campaign started on July 16 we decided to introduce our new force policy of breath testing all drivers involved in accidents.

"So although we carried out nearly three times as many tests as last year, the percentage of drink drivers has actually fallen.

"Although I am encouraged that the message seems to be getting through to the public in general, I am still concerned about the hard core of motorists who continue to ignore our advice.

"Those people will now have to face the full force of law as they are dealt with by the courts."

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