POLICE are alarmed about the number of people who were caught drink-driving in Teesside over the weekend.

Officers arrested 24 motorists who failed breath tests, six times the number who were caught over the same period last year.

Police said it could have been because it was Valentine's Day on Friday and more people were out celebrating or the cold weather could have been to blame for the sharp rise in the number of people jumping into their cars as opposed to walking.

Two weeks ago nine people were arrested for drink-driving in Stockton and police have warned there will be more police patrols and more roadside tests will be carried out.

Inspector Steve Lawson, of Cleveland Police, said: "Our drink driving campaign is not seasonal but operating 365 days a year."

"If drivers choose to put themselves and other road users at risk then they must be prepared to face the consequences. Not only will they lose their licence but they could face a hefty fine and for some people they could be putting their jobs in jeopardy."

Those arrested at the weekend came from a range of backgrounds including middle-aged medical professionals as well as young people returning from nights out at pubs and clubs.

All drivers will be dealt with through the court system.

Anti drink-drive campaigner Harry Cape said he would like the police to do random breath tests on more motorists to let people know there was always a chance of them being stopped for no reason.

He said: "If you have not done anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about.

"A lot of young people who have passed their test are very aware of the dangers of drink driving because it is drummed into them from the start.

"It is those who are a bit older and should know better who are the worst offenders because they have been getting away with it for years."

Mr Cape said random breath test trials in Australia had cut drink-driving convictions by a third and had proved popular.

He added: "People are lazy and will use their cars to go everywhere even if they have had a drink, but that is the society which we live in.

"They think it will never happen to me, it will be someone else who gets caught or the bloke down the road who ends up killing someone."

"You can not only lose your licence but the knock on effect can cost you your job, your house, your wife and kids, all because you were so stupid to not think of getting a taxi after drinking."