POLICE made nine arrests for drink and drug driving during the first weekend of their annual festive crackdown in North Yorkshire.

Among those was a driver found to be three-and-a half times the legal limit for alcohol after a tip-off from a member of the public.

The caller contacted police at 1.30pm on Saturday regarding a suspected drink driver behind the wheel of a car which collided with a van on Station View in Harrogate.

Sergeant Andy Morton said: “It’s disappointing to see the number of arrests made at this stage of the operation. Every year we hope that drivers will hear our warnings and recognise the threat that they pose to themselves and others on the road.

“However, the arrests made this weekend shows some drivers think tragedy won’t touch them and they’ll take that chance and get away with it. However, my experience tells me that it may be the last chance they ever take. Either that, or they will devastate another innocent family, by killing a loved one just before Christmas."