THE number of motorists caught drink driving during the festive period is the worst in four years, Wiltshire police figures have revealed.

The worrying statistics show that north and west Wiltshire police took 74 breath tests and seven motorists gave positive samples during the Christmas crackdown.

Throughout Wiltshire the number of motorists caught driving while over the limit rose from 12 during last year's festive period to 20 for 2004/05.

The police statistics revealed the Christmas crackdown caught the most drink drivers with positive breath tests since 23 motorists were snared in 2000/01.

Sgt Dave Melvin, Wiltshire's force road safety officer, said: "The increase in the number of drivers arrested at the scene of road collisions is disappointing, as is the increase in the number of injury road collisions.

"However, the higher number of arrests does serve once again to remind drivers that if they risk drinking and driving, they also run a very great risk of injuring themselves or others, and of being arrested and put before a court."

In north and west Wiltshire the number of breath tests taken after a road collision fell from 85 last year to 74 this year.

But the number of road collisions resulting in injury during the holiday season rose from 22 to 27.

North and west Wiltshire also saw more drink drivers on the roads than in Salisbury and Kennet but fewer than Swindon.

Throughout the county the number of breath tests taken after road collisions has fallen but the number of positive tests and crashes leading to injury both increased.

Now road crash support groups are calling for more to be done to stop drink driving figures soaring.

Brigitte Chaudhry, president of crash victim support group Roadwatch, said: "We know that drink driving has gone up in the last year.

"We believe that this is due to a reduction in the number of traffic police on the roads, and the other reason is that roadside injuries are not being treated seriously enough.

"The drink drive campaign in the past was very successful as police were strict with regular breath tests, and police were also waiting outside the pubs for people to come out.

"All this has declined over the past year so there is a general perception, we believe, by the driving public that they do not need to take care."

The Wiltshire police figures were collected following an annual operation across the region between December 18, 2004 and January 2, 2005.

Crash victims can contact Roadwatch on 0845 4500355.