MORE than 200 arrests were made before Christmas as part of a clampdown on drink and drug-driving.

Several check-points were set up by Lancashire Police on roads around the county throughout December with hundreds of drivers stopped at the roadside for checks.

In total, between December 1 and 31, 240 people were arrested as a result of the clampdown.

Of those, 137 were in relation to drink-driving, 71 were in relation to drug-driving and 32 were in relation to motorists failing to give a sample or having their judgment significantly impaired by drink or drugs.

One of the arrests was in relation to a fatal collision in which a man aged in his 30s was killed.

Ch Insp Pat Worden, of Lancashire Police, said: “First and foremost we must thank those members of the public – by far the majority – who followed the law and made arrangements that didn’t involve them drink or drug-driving. “Unfortunately we know that at Christmas more people are willing to take the risk than at other times of year and this last month saw officers stop 240 people who believed the law did not apply to them.

“Drinking or taking drugs before driving is completely unacceptable at any time and our efforts to catch those responsible are constantly ongoing.

“Christmas may be over but we will continue to carry out regular enforcement activity and take action against anyone who breaks the law and puts others’ lives at risk in this way.”