EIGHTY drivers have been arrested as part of a police crackdown on drink driving over the Christmas period.

So far this month officers have also carried out 155 drug wipes across Hampshire and Thames Valley, with 79 tests found positive.

The festive campaign, coined Operation Holly, was launched on December 1 and runs until January to tackle those who drive under the influence of drink or drugs and has seen officer carrying out targeted patrols and roadside checks.

And during the operation so far 71 per cent of drink drivers have been male, with the most positive breath tests are aged between 35 to 49 years and 17 to 34-year-olds have been the highest percentage of drug wipe arrests.

Roads Safety Sergeant Rob Heard said: “We continue to enforce and target drink and drug drivers throughout the month of December. Sadly, we have made more than 150 arrests for drink and drug driving.

“Our message is plain and simple, please don’t take the risk and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it impairs your driving ability and reactions, the consequences are devastating and your thoughtless actions ruin innocent lives.

“Now that the Christmas period is almost upon us, many of us will take the time to celebrate, please plan your journeys, organise taxis’ and consider the reality you maybe over the limit the morning after."

This morning (December 20) roads policing officers ran a drink and drug drive ‘morning-after’ operation on the north and southbound carriageway of the A34 near to Sutton Scotney.

More than 70 drivers were tested with three were arrested for drink and drug driving offences, and nine other motoring offences were dealt with during the four hour operation.

Temporary Sergeant Paul Blum said: “Our main area of focus this morning was around educating drivers about the risks of drink and drug driving. It was a successful and effective operation, where we had varying motoring demographic.

“We conducted 26 breath tests, two of which were positive. We arrested one male driver of a goods vehicle for a positive drug wipe at the scene. We also dealt with one no insurance, three seatbelt offences, two mobile phone offences, one no VEL which meant the vehicle was seized, two vehicles issued with a prohibition notice, one driver given a ticket for defective tyre cord.”