A JOINT anti-drink-driving campaign between Durham and Northumbria Police has caught 146 drivers over the limit in its first month.

In Northumbria, 129 drivers tested positive, while in Durham 17 motorists failed breath tests in a series of pre-planned roadside stops.

The campaign was launched last month, with officers from both forces stressing drink driving was an all-year-round problem and not just at Christmas and the new year.

Traffic police targeted known suspects in Northumbria, stopping 869 people, including drivers in the Tyne and Wear area.

Durham Police stopped 2,319 motorists as part of a county-wide blitz.

The operation will continue until the end of the month.

Chief Inspector Brian Ruddick, head of traffic at Durham Police, said: "In the first six months of this year, 4,905 breath tests were conducted with 461 positive results.

"During the August blitz, we carried out 2,319 tests, of which only 17 were positive. This is an encouraging result for Durham.

"We concentrated our campaign on stopping drivers late at night, during early morning rush hours and after every collision."

Inspector Paul Gilroy, of Northumbria Police's motor patrols section, said: "We concentrated our roadside checks on individuals suspected of drink-driving, and over 25 per cent of these gave positive breathalyser readings.

"While this confirms that our intelligence on these people was on target, it is still very disappointing that over 100 people should ignore countless warnings about drinking and driving."

Motorists have been issued with advice on avoiding drink driving as part of the campaign.

Drivers are urged to avoid alcohol when driving, arrange alternative transport and organise lifts to work if they could be over the limit the next day.