WILTSHIRE police have said they will be stepping up their campaign to stop people drinking and driving over the Christmas and New Year period after disappointing results in last year's campaign.

David Jamieson, Minister for Road Safety, launched the Government's Christmas and New Year anti-drink-drive campaign on Tuesday as part of a drive to get through to the minority of motorists who still chance losing their licences, if not the lives of others, by driving while over the legal limit.

Wiltshire Police hope this year more drivers will act responsibly and either keep off the booze or keep off the roads.

Wiltshire Constabulary's force road safety officer, Sgt Dave Melvin, said: "The Christmas and New Year period is an important celebration for families and numerous people will be attending parties or simply visiting friends and family.

"We do not want these festive celebrations marred by deaths and injuries on the roads.

"We are asking all those concerned to take a responsible attitude and not ruin their own, their family's or other people's celebrations by ignoring the advice of not drinking and driving."

During last year's Christmas and New Year period the number of motorists caught drinking and driving was double the number for the same period the year before.

Although fewer breath tests were carried out, the number of positive breath tests was 23, compared to 12 in 1999/2000.

The disappointment from county police officers at the rise, despite a hard-hitting Government campaign in press and TV, was palpable.

Sgt Melvin said at the time: "Given the improvement achieved in the previous year's Christmas and New Year campaign, we had some reason for optimism.

"Naturally we are very disappointed with the number of drivers arrested following road collisions this time.

"Clearly the message is not being heeded by some and there is still a lot of work to be done by ourselves and other agencies to persuade drivers not to drink and drive."

A total of 282 breath tests were carried out, compared with 306 in 1999/2000.

During the year 2000 Wiltshire police officers conducted just over 6,500 roadside breath tests and just under 1,000 drivers were arrested for providing positive breath specimens, or failing or refusing to supply a specimen.

Police officers around the county will be enforcing the drink-drive legislation throughout the campaign period, which runs from 6am on Tuesday December 18 to 6am on Wednesday January 2.

There is a mandatory minimum one year driving ban, and those found with significantly higher levels of alcohol in their bodies can expect heavy fines, community punishment or, in the worst cases, periods of imprisonment.