More than 3,500 drivers have failed breath tests this year

Figures for the first three weeks of the Christmas crackdown show that 294 drink-drivers were detected, up 55 on the same period last year.

Police have detected 3,527 drink drivers since January - an increase of 1,452 on last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner said the detection rate reflected the robust approach being taken by police.

'Irresponsible minority'

He said: "We warned at the outset that there would be no hiding place for those who drink and drive."

"The fact that we are averaging around 100 detections a week shows we are delivering on that promise.

"If an irresponsible minority are determined to continue to drink and drive they can be assured we are determined to catch them."

The vast majority of the public realises that driving after taking drink or drugs is shameful and dangerous ACC Roy Toner

Mr Toner said that this year's campaign had been boosted by a number of operations which concentrate police resources on road safety - in both urban and rural regions.

He said that 24 of this year's deaths on the roads were drink-related.

"The vast majority of the public realises that driving after taking drink or drugs is shameful and dangerous," he said.